Be kind and compassionate to one another.
—Ephesians 4:32
Question number two:
Is this a kind thing to do?
When Jeff Bezos was a teenager, he read an article that cited the number of minutes a person’s lifespan was reduced by smoking one cigarette. His grandmother was a smoker. He did the math and told her, “Grandma, you’ve lost nine years of your life.”
She burst into tears. Jeff’s grandpa pointed a finger in his face and said, “Jeff, one day you’ll understand that it’s better to be kind than clever.”
Being right isn’t a license to be condescending, judgmental, and unkind. Catch the sharp, sarcastic word before it comes out of your mouth. Replace it with respect and kindness.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up” (Eph 4:29).
One word of kindness can change
a person’s day—and perhaps their life.