Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

I have some breaking news for you.  Some people are difficult to be kind to.  I will wait a moment while you pick yourself off the floor after that “breaking “  news.   Actually, of course, I am being  I am being mildly sarcastic.  We all know that there are difficult people out there.  Looking at our verse for today I don’t  see any postscripts that say, “Be kind unless they are difficult.”   As a matter of fact,  in 1 Peter 3:8-9 it almost says the opposite.

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” 

When the verse says not to repay “evil for evil” or “reviling for reviling”  it is actually saying that there will sometimes be people who do evil and reviling things.  I know that is no surprise to you either.  But as we look at the above verses we realize that God has left us very little wiggle room when it comes to showing kindness to others.

According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. Abraham rushed out, greeted him, and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man’s feet and gave him food and drink.

The old man immediately began eating without saying any prayer or blessing. So Abraham asked him, “Don’t you worship God?”

The old traveler replied, “I worship fire only and reverence no other god.”

When he heard this, Abraham became incensed, grabbed the old man by the shoulders, and threw him out his tent into the cold night air.

When the old man had departed, God called to his friend Abraham and asked where the stranger was. Abraham replied, “I forced him out because he did not worship you.”

God answered, “I have suffered him these eighty years although he dishonors me. Could you not endure him one night?”

We may not have thrown someone out into the night lately, but how many have we turned out of our lives.  How many have we decided were not “worthy” of our time and goodness.  There are many ways we can turn people away without physically removing them.   We must know that if God has tolerated them for this long we might be part of the plan to bring them kindness.    It did not say in the story above, but is it possible that  God could have said to Abraham, “What came of the man I sent to your door tonight.  He has been turned away by so many, but I knew that you love me, so you would love him also.  How did it go.”  Boy,those would be harsh words for Abraham to hear from God- for us as well.

A few years ago we were on our way back from a camping trip and our oldest son and his family were following us in their car.   We passed  a young man walking the opposite way along the road.  He was wearing some raggedy clothes and carrying a well-worn backpack.  I did not think much of it as we see many young people  along our highways and byways in this day and age.

I looked in my rear view mirror and our son was pulling off the road and making a u-turn.  I pulled off the road and waited for them to return, thinking maybe one of the kids tossed a hat, a toy, or maybe a brother out the window.   We waited for a bit and along they came and our son pulled over behind us and jumped out to see what the matter was. 

Chris said, “Did you see that guy back there.  He didn’t have any shoes.  I didn’t need mine to drive, so I went back to see if he needed them.  It was great.  They fit.”   Well, I was really proud of Chris, but realized that I had not even noticed that the man was shoeless.   Even if I would have, I am not sure I would have stopped.  I learned a lesson that day.  Don’t just glance at appearances because God might just send a need my way and I need to look with that in mind.

Today on my way to town I was in a left lane with about thirty cars packed bumper to bumper because the right lane was closed ahead.  I have a pet peeve and sure enough it came to pass.  I huge truck came barreling along in the right lane passing all the cars in the left lane dutifully staying in the open left lane.  That man in the speeding truck had to rely on the kindness of at least one driver who was willing to ignore  an obvious infringement of etiquette and let him in.  Well, up ahead the man got his break and someone let him in.

Allegorically speaking, that is what we are called to do in today’s verses.   We are called to be kind whenever possible to the irritating, the obnoxious, the difficult, and even cruel.   After all, they are the ones who may need kindness the most.