Someone posted on the Orange for Owen page on facebook about another organization called Ben’s Bells Project.

I read about who Ben was and why his parents started this organization.  I looked at the pictures.  Then I read the mission statement:

Our mission is to inspire, educate and motivate each other to realize the impact of intentional kindness and to empower individuals to act according to that awareness, thereby changing our world.

Intentional kindness.  The words made me think … got the gears turning.  This is not the kind of stuff like holding a door open or smiling – this is something with purpose and drive.  It’s deliberate – willful – purposeful – intended.  It calls for thought before hand. Planning.

If you listen to KLove you know what “Make a Difference Monday” is.  You are encouraged to go out of your way and make someone else smile – show someone intentional kindness.  But what if we did this every day?  Every week … every year.  What if intentional kindness wasn’t just something we did on Mondays … or when we felt like it.  What if we did something intentional every day of the week?  Every day of the year?  Honestly, I don’t know that I have the strength or stamina to really do that.  But if I could … I really believe my life would be radically different.

I’ve been doing a lot of praying about hate vs love lately.  I looked forward to the sermon at church yesterday – Oh God Lead Us from Hate to Love.  I read the Generous Wife blog.  She recently called attention to this scripture:

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  1 Peter 3:9   NIV

I feel like this is all powerful stuff.  These are radical ways of thinking – no one’s natural reaction to evil is to bless that person.  It’s got to be intentional.  Purposeful.  Pre-thought out.  I feel challenged to change my gut – to stop my natural reactions.  I fear that I will be too weak to make the change successfully – or at all.  It’s overwhelming to think that I am expected to pray for the man who holds up a bank.  To bless the friend who lied to me.  When my husband wakes up cranky  – I am expected to repay him with a blessing.    For the guy that cut me off on the freeway, forgiveness.  For the mother who beats her children, a prayer.

I need strength in the days ahead.  In the trials of hate vs love that are still to come.  I pray for the softening of my heart so that I will turn to love rather than revenge.  I pray that when I feel the fire of anger begin to ignite in my heart that I will be able to put the flame out … may love and peace takes it place.  I pray that I use the power of forgiveness in all that I do.

Intentional kindness — it sure is a crazy idea … but the possibilities it opens are beautiful!

Love, Mel