W

May 12th

KINDNESS IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT RESPONSE

“Kindness is invincible, but only when it’s sincere, with no

hypocrisy or faking. For what can even the most malicious person

do if you keep showing kindness and, if given the chance, you

gently point out where they went wrong—right as they are trying

to harm you?”

—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 11.18.5.9a

hat if the next time you were treated meanly, you didn’t just restrain
yourself from fighting back—what if you responded with
unmitigated kindness? What if you could “love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you”? What kind of effect do you think that would have?
The Bible says that when you can do something nice and caring to a
hateful enemy, it is like “heap[ing] burning coals on his head.” The
expected reaction to hatred is more hatred. When someone says something
pointed or mean today, they expect you to respond in kind—not with
kindness. When that doesn’t happen, they are embarrassed. It’s a shock to
their system—it makes them and you better.
Most rudeness, meanness, and cruelty are a mask for deep-seated
weakness. Kindness in these situations is only possible for people of great
strength. You have that strength. Use it.