Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12
“What does kindness do at home? It makes the mother’s lullaby sweeter than the song of the lark, the care-laden brows of the father and the man of business less severe in their expression, and the children joyous without being riotous. Abroad, it assists the fallen, encourages the virtuous, and looks with true charity on the extremely unfortunate.”
A. Perkins in Day’s Collacon, compiled and arranged by Edward Parsons Day (New York: IPPO, 1884) 476.
Here’s something to think about when you get dressed. Clothe yourself with kindness (among other traits). As Perkins notes, it changes everything at home and brings harmony and joy.
Kindness also shapes the world around us. It lifts up the fallen, encourages the virtuous to stay the course and gives the broken and hurting exactly what they need, a helping hand.
Remind yourself as you get dressed each day to put on kindness. Perhaps say it to yourself every time you put on your socks to remind you to include kindness with every step you take.
Imagine if you left kindness in your clothing closet. You could go about your day and do many things that you think might be generous, but how would they be received without kindness?
Put on kindness at home and abroad.