I have decided as part of my NaBloPoMo challenge to Reblog posts I have enjoyed reading myself on Saturday & Sundays. Perhaps you too will find something that touches your own heart in a special way as you read along!

I have always appreciated kindness & have made a conscious effort to extend kindness to others, (as God would have me do.) Donna at ayearoflivingkindly.com does a stunning job encouraging those with this same goal to persevere in their efforts to be kind in a sometimes difficult world that we live in! This most recent article touches on the importance of honesty and it’s proper use as we strive to be a conduit of kindness to one another.

The article struck a cord for me due in part to an emotional scar that has been difficult to heal as the result of someone’s “honesty.” Not many years ago someone wrote a defamation letter against our family regarding their “honest” opinion of my loved ones. This letter damaged not only relationships that were already strained, but had such a domino effect that a marriage eventually was destroyed.

I remember the letter trying to be “rationalized.”  When we were told the writer was “entitled to their opinion” and “to share it how they wished,” all I kept hearing in my own thoughts was Thumper from the Disney movie Bambi saying…. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.”  How could a cartoon rabbit in a forest (with an adorable foot-twitch,) have the wisdom to be kind and yet it be so lacking in the actions of this person was fascinating to me in this moment.   Admittedly, they were/are entitled to a personal opinion.  But…being dishonest, when our honesty has a potential to hurt others, is most times a far kinder gesture to make. God is pleased with our ability to discern when to quietly be dishonest…all as a measure of love.

I’ll be back on Monday with a “giggle” of my own to share, but for now enjoy the beautiful insight from Donna’s site & I pray there will be a special nugget unearthed as a wonderful discovery for you as well!!