Kindness Matters

Monday Devotion

“Love is kind.”

1 Corinthians 13:4

“What five or six qualities would you choose in a mate if you were looking for a wife?” someone asked me.

After some thought, I rattled off six items.

“You didn’t even mention physical appearance,” said the man.

“Hmmm,” I said.  But after thinking about it some more, I realized the omission was no accident.

“Let’s say you were married to Charlize Theron,” I explained.  “For the sake of argument, let’s say you’ve been married for seven years.  If you’re rushing to get ready for work and she comes out of the shower stark naked, you know what you’re going to say? ‘Honey, have you seen my brown belt? I can’t find my belt and I need to leave in ten minutes.’  As crazy as it may sound, you would actually be more excited at the sight of that leather belt than you would be watching your naked wife walk to the closet.”

The way we’re wired, physical attraction of even the highest nature, over time, quiets down.  Sometimes I forget I’m married to a very attractive woman.  I see her every day, and so it’s easy to take it for granted.  But you know what I don’t take for granted?  Every individual act of kindness.