Love Letter to the Kind

I cannot encapsulate the true sentiment of this letter without first distinguishing between what it means to be kind and what it means to be nice.

Kindness is not, nor ever will be, self-deprecating.

Niceness is.

Kindness allows for the overall growth and effective development of a community of people, moved, in great part, by the health of the relationships among its members.

Niceness does not.

It is of far greater value to be kind than to be nice.

Being nice often involves hiding displeasure at disregarded boundaries or lack of respect. Niceness requires a certain level of disingenuousness, accompanied by a need to save face and keep the peace, to the detriment of the one “being nice.” With niceness, only some are afforded peace and pleasure, and this, at the expense of others.

In the end, resentment and anger become undesired byproducts.

Be kind.

Not nice.

In doing so, the necessary parameters are respected, resulting in balance and harmony for all parties involved.

“And Yahuah passed by him and proclaimed, Yahuah, Yahuah, an El compassionate and showing favour, patient, and great in kindness and truth, watching over kindness for thousands, forgiving wickedness and transgression and sin, but by no means leaving the guilty unpunished …” Exodus 34:6-7a (emphasis added)

“For Yahuah your Elohim is Elohim of mighty ones and Adon of masters, the great El, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.” Deuteronomy 10:17

Kindness is a divine characteristic.

It is impartial and concerns itself neither with people pleasing nor saving face. It is just, loving and affirming of truth.

Kindness preserves your soul.

It is rewarded both in this world and in the world to come.