The night sky is so beautiful tonight, a clear deep dark midnight purple. Haruki Murakami describes the night sky so perfectly — “The sky grew darker, painted blue on blue, one stroke at a time, into deeper and deeper shades of night.” Mr. Waxing Gibbous Moon is bright and handsome, illuminated at 84 percent of his current self, getting ready for the pageant of a full moon on Tuesday, March 3, where he will be dressed as a worm moon. A little gathering of mackerel scale clouds and three large sterling silver stars are holding court with Mr. Moon. I stumbled all over the sidewalk looking up at the sky on my walk with Penelope. The sky is “just a picture” this evening. My favorite night sky quote, “The night walked down the sky with the moon in her hand,” Frederic Lawrence Knowles. Love that imagery. That big old moon is probably heavy tonight.

I sat in the swing today pondering the afternoon away. Father Sky sketched a glorious sky piling the clouds on top of each other yet defining them by their fluffy curved edges. Thought of what Judy Garland said, “Behind every cloud is another cloud.” True but we have God’s holy light and the promises of the rainbow to push those clouds away and put sunshine back in our lives.

Dusk fell and the magic of the day’s gloaming began. Mother Nature touched her watercolor brushes to the clouds at sunset and let the clouds drink in washes of violet. I watched the clouds make their faces up in shades of lilac, mauve, lavender, periwinkle, and amethyst. So beautiful as the twilight and the days’ demise muted the watercolors as darkness covered the horizon. The sun rolled up a few clouds like a window shade to peep her golden rays out at sunset but Mother Nature’s watercolor brushes hid her walk down the horizon. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.” It was to me tonight.

Flipped through my quote book and read a quote on kindness. I think the world right now needs kindness in all its thoughts, words, and deeds. Seems the world is self-centered now, in too much of a hurry to give kindness a chance. We think only of ourselves and not others. Kahil Gibran said, “Kindness is like snow, it beautifies everything it covers.” Those words are a wonderful definition of kindness. Made me think of our daughter Rosalyn playing with glitter as a little girl. Once you get glitter out of its container, glitter goes everywhere. Kindness should be like glitter. It sticks to everything and keeps passing around. Romans 12:15 reads, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” When we choose kindness, we put others needs before our own, being motivated by a genuine feeling of wanting to do something that helps others. Kindness can spread like a shaker of glitter but we have to commit to consciously being kind and compassionate in our dealings with others.

Doesn’t even take any effort to be compassionate and kind, a smile, a hug, a word of cheer. Ephesians 4:32 counsels us to “be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” I honestly think it takes more effort to be unkind and impatient. Colossians 3:12 reads, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Kindness makes the world a happier place for everyone and I think it encourages others to be kind. I also think we need to be kind to ourselves. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou.

Kindness can be difficult and can require courage and patience. Kindness is a choice. It’s not just being nice. I was listing what I think kindness encompasses and realized the words affectionate, gentle, caring, compassionate, and generous also describe God. He is kind and compassionate and his kindness like his love, is powerful and everlasting. Even when we sin his love is unconditional and his forgiveness readily available when we repent through our prayers and thanksgiving. We need to let God rule our hearts and try to live in the image of Jesus. God is patient and kind and his everlasting kindness and compassion bless us every day. Let’s all strive to put more kindness in our lives for ourselves and for others.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” — Aesop