Day 2--Love is Kind

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you--Ephesians 4:32

"Kindness is love in action. If patience is how love reacts in order to minimize a negative circumstance, kindness is how love acts to maximize a positive circumstance. Patience avoids a problem; kindness creates a blessing."

"Kindess breaks down into four categories:

1. Gentleness--When you're operating from kindness, you're careful how you treat your spouse, never being unnecessarily harsh. You're sensitive. Tender. You'll bend over backwards to to make the hard things easier to hear.

2. Helpfulness--Being kind means you meet the needs of the moment. If it's housework, you get busy. Kindness graces a wife with the ability to serve her husband without worrying about her rights. Kindness makes a husband curious to discover what his wife needs, then motivates him to be the one who steps up and ensures those needs are met- even if his are put on hold.

3. Willingness--Kindness inspires you to be agreeable. Instead of being obstinate, reluctant or stubborn, you cooperate, you stay flexible. You look for reasons to compromise and accomodate.

4. Initiative--Kindess thinks ahead, then takes the first step. The kind husband or wife will be the one who greets first, smiles first, serves first and forgives first. They don't require the other to get his or her act together before showing love. When acting from kindness you see the need, then make your move. First."

"It is difficult to demonstrate love when you feel little to no motivation. But love in its truest sense is not based on feelings. Rather, love determines to show thoughtful actions even when there seems to be no reward. You will never learn to love until you learn to demonstrate kindness."

Today's dare: Along with saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindess.