Be Kind During Easter: 3 Simple Ways to Be Nicer to Others This Lent (and Every Day) From Fr. James Martin by 30Seconds Mom


During the Easter season, the age-old spiritual question of what you’re going to give up for Lent arises. Instead of giving things up, Fr. James Martin, S.J., the culture editor at America Magazine, encourages people to do something positive. His advice is two words:

Be kind.

He believes these two simple words sum up the heart of the Christian message of faith and spirituality. Here are three ways he suggests being kind so you can make a difference and make life better for yourself and others:

  • Don’t be a jerk. Sounds obvious, right? But maybe not. “You’re tired. You’re sick. Your boss just did something that made you nuts. Things are tough with your family. You’re late for work. That doesn’t mean you have to pass along your misery to everybody else," he says.
  • Honor the absent. “In other words, stop talking about people behind their back. Nothing I think is so damaging to our spiritual lives as denigrating another person. It’s a real serious form of uncharity. Of course, it can make the other person feel miserable.”
  • Always give people the benefit of the doubt. “When there’s a doubt about how somebody means something or what someone does, give them the plus sign.”

Being kind this Lent (and always) can enhance the relationships in your life. “Believe me, it’s a lot harder than giving up chocolates, but it’ll be a lot better for your spiritual life and for everyone else’s."

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Donna John
Yes!! Kindness is what we should be teaching our children. Love this.
Gwen Johnson
Nothing better than spreading kindness and gratitude.
Elisa Schmitz
I love this. Because of this, I decided to practice all of these for Lent instead of giving something up. While I hope I am kind most the time, I know I can always do better! Thank you for sharing this. #kindnessmatters
Tribe
"Don't be a jerk." So simple yet so effective! :-)

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