Daily lesson for December 9, 2014

Today's daily lesson comes from 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 14 and 15:

"14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone."

There is a quote I really like that has been attributed to Plato, Philo of Alexandria, and even a fictitious person named Ian MacLaren. (Perhaps one day you'll attribute it to me.) But it actually comes from a 19th century Presbyterian minister named John Watson.  Here's the quote: 

"Be kind; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

If we knew what others were going through we would be a lot kinder; we would have more patience and give more encouragement. We would know why others have lashed out and wounded us, and so we would not in turn lash out at others. Instead of talking badly about others behind their backs, we would tell the truth to them. And we would tell it in love, and with grace, and with a genuine hope for growth all around.

Everyone we will encounter today is fighting a hard battle. They are carrying burdens at work and home, they are in grief, they are still trying to survive traumatic events which happened decades ago, they are wondering if they can go on -- or even if they should. 

Be kind to them.  Get to know their stories, if you can.  See them as the God-loved people they are.