Get faith and culture news for women here
  • Home
  • My Book: Leaving Cloud 9
  • About
    • Family
  • My Writing
  • Book Reviews
  • Podcast

Ericka Andersen

The Sweet Life with Ericka

Navigation
You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Be Kind Anyways

Be Kind Anyways

September 14, 2013 by Ericka

Share this post
Pinterest0
Twitter0
Facebook0
Google+1

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

If I have had one transformation in the past few years, it’s this. I know it’s not easy to “be kind anyways.” I wasn’t always so grace-ful. But I prayed that God would change my heart to be like His. I prayed a lot and I sang “My Father’s Eyes” because I wanted them.

I don’t always succeed. But aggression towards people has been stripped away. If anything, I get sad for people — not mad. Oh man does it make life better.

Some might call me a pushover at times. And sometimes that balance is hard to find. What’s assertive and firm versus compassionate and kind? Depending on the situation, it can be a tough call.

But think about this — life is 80-ish years, if you are lucky. What matters? Are your words and actions filling this world with LOVE and LIGHT? Or…are they pushing negativity and irritation and anger into the atmosphere? How does that make anything better even if it does give you a “release”? You still walk away simmering with something that doesn’t help.

Last night, I attended “Her Voice” — an event put on by my church, National Community Church. I’ve been really trying to get back to the basics with God lately – instead of running away from issues. I guess the talk inspired me — because when I saw the graphic above, it tied right in.

Main take away? Are you elevating others when you speak of them? Is what you are saying a good representation of Jesus? If not, think again. I fall prey to gossip just like everyone else. As a middle schooler, I remember this being the main sin I struggled with. Little did I know that sin that was to come then…

But you still have to deal with the basic stuff. Sin is as sin is — all the same.

It’s Saturday morning and I’m sitting here writing and thinking for once because I’m injured. For one Saturday, my first concern is not getting in a long run or a workout. While I do wish that was part of my morning, it does free up my brain for some reflection.

There are some things about myself that I don’t like. They aren’t things I want to talk about here on the blog — but just know there are struggles you don’t see on these pages. Like so many others, I sometimes fall into Instagram-itis — getting a little jealous over someone else’s life. Please know there are struggles that don’t appear on this blog that are unseen, unwritten.

But while struggling, you can hang your hat on one thing — be kind anyways. Love anyways. Have grace anyways. Elevate others anyways. Be Jesus to the world anyways. Remove your judgment anyways. Choose joy anyways. What’s your anyways? Make your choice.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

« 7 Reasons Why You Should Start a Blog
Running Again (!!) & Weekend Review »

Comments

  1. Becky says

    September 14, 2013 at 7:54 am

    I love your post this morning. If you are familiar with the …be kind anyway. .. then maybe you already know Mother Teresa's poem on the same subject. Among all of the good things I read in this post, one is I'm gald to hear you're giving your body a break. But the other thing I loved was something I will take with me is "…when you say a person's name are you lifting them up — or not? That's your filter." I will make that a personal goal. Thanks so much for always sharing what's on your heart! Love, becky

  2. Becky says

    September 14, 2013 at 12:54 pm

    I love your post this morning. If you are familiar with the …be kind anyway. .. then maybe you already know Mother Teresa's poem on the same subject. Among all of the good things I read in this post, one is I'm gald to hear you're giving your body a break. But the other thing I loved was something I will take with me is "…when you say a person's name are you lifting them up — or not? That's your filter." I will make that a personal goal. Thanks so much for always sharing what's on your heart! Love, becky

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Welcome! I'm Ericka: Writer, podcaster, wife, mother, runner and Enneagram 4! I write about faith + politics + addiction + church planting. I wrote a book once too -- see below!

Leaving Cloud 9: The True Story of a Life Resurrected From the Ashes of Poverty, Trauma & Mental Illness

My Podcast: Worth Your Time

Most Popular Posts

Popular posts

21 Day Fix: A Diet Story

I've never gone on a diet. Not really. But it … [Read More...]

Cherry-Almond Vanilla Cupcakes

Pin ItIf I didn't go searching around, I'd never … [Read More...]

Austin Food, Friends & Fun

It's my last day at SXSW -- but no tears here. … [Read More...]

Getting Through It

Ideas for cross training? This one is fun … [Read More...]

eating disorder recovery program

Eating Disorder Recovery with Christie Dondero Bettwy, Executive Director of Rock Recovery

Eating disorder recovery is a subject that is … [Read More...]

Getting Serious: Grace

I will rarely get too serious on my blog but I've … [Read More...]

Eating in the Congo

Every day, twice a day baby! (photo credit: Sarah … [Read More...]

2014 CrossFit Games: Whopper of a First Day

*This post is sponsored by Fitfluential, LLC on … [Read More...]

How I Became Stronger Than Ever Before

>>>>Like my posts about CrossFit? … [Read More...]

How To Curb Carb Cravings

Curb carb cravings. Sounds like something most … [Read More...]

Copyright © 2021 · WordPress Maintenance & support by Fixrunner.com · Built on the Genesis Framework

Copyright © 2021 · Genesis Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in