The Law of Kindness

Fall has kicked off in a big way, and I feel like I'm running behind as usual, but on Saturday I got to do something I have been anticipating for more than a year.

I was here. (I hope the video works for you--it took me a couple tries.)

My friend Kay Lynne and I hit the road by 7:00 a.m. and got to the Rosemont Theatre by 8:15 (the doors opened at 8:00), and there were no seats left together on the main floor so we headed to the balcony.

There were 8,000 to 10,000 women in the theatre, but since this was also a simulcast, there were 125,000 women participating across the U.S., in 11 different countries, with hosts from 30 different denominations, at 5 army bases, and 1 soup kitchen. The t-shirts for the event read, "125,000 women and a few brave men."

Oh, and among the 8,000-10,000 women there, I ran into Lucy's second grade teacher in the bathroom!

It's impossible to try and describe the day (the video does it best, I guess) but the lesson was from Proverbs 31:26 "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue."

Here are just some snippets from my notes:

The law of kindness referred to in the verse is translated "torat-hesed"--literally, "the Torah of kindness."

Why is it important to spend a whole day contemplating the Law of Kindness?

a) Because we live in a mean world, and it's gonna get meaner.
b) Because "she opens her mouth"! It's inevitable that we are going to open our mouths, let it be with kindness on our tongue.

(I loved this part: Note that after the resurrection, Jesus first appeared to some women. Why? Because He wanted to get the word out!)

Women are teachers and all-around opinion givers; we are all published every day in what we say, meaning we put it out there publicly. (One of my favorite points)--Our editor must be the Holy Spirit. Refrain from just making noise. Refrain from lexical food fights. Look it before you facebook it.

Then Beth gave us eight tastes of kindness from Scripture, briefly:

1) Kindness is not weakness. Ps. 141:5 (Another aside that I loved. Kindness is not niceness. "Nice"originally translated from the Latin means "ignorant" or "not knowing"--basically, the reason you're nice all the time is because you're an idiot. Kindness knows--and is still kind. The saying goes, "Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what girls are made of," when it's really more like, "Pumpkin spice and a caffeine vice, that's what we're made of!" Can I get an amen?!)

2) Kindness is not an action; it's a disposition. (I think I missed the references for this; I can't find them in my notes.)

3) Kindness wears down when we do. Daniel 7:25, Matthew 11:28-30, Ephesians 4:12, 16, & 29

4) Kindness looks pain in the face. Job 6:28, Titus 3:3-8

5) Kindness is a Savior. Romans 8, Ephesians 2:4

6) Kindness has a good memory. Ps. 106:7, Hosea 11:4

7. Kindness craves an outlet. II Samuel 9:1

8. Kindness leaves a legacy. Acts 28:1-2

And a final point--If we have children growing up in this mean world who are kind, it will not be an accident!

Interspersed throughout the teaching was worship with Travis Cottrell, which I just kind of don't have words for.

All in all, it was a great day of renewal for me that I have needed so much. Kay Lynne and I looked at the future schedule for Living Proof Live and saw there is one next May in Minneapolis. We looked at each other and said, "That's only five hours from here--road trip in May!" Check out here if there are any near you; it is a great experience!