Malice toward none and charity for all

Kindness is relatively easy to practice when all is going well. To show kindness at difficult and stressful times is to allow the heart [instead of the circumstance] to govern what we do. Kindness is a language of its own [I am fluent in two languages–kindness is not one of them], a power, a strength of character, a way of life—and these days it seems so often in short supply.

President Lincoln did more than just speak publicly of kindness; it guided his private interactions as well. He once instructed an army commander regarding the punishment of a Confederate officer: ‘My dear General, . . . do nothing in reprisal for the past—only what is necessary to ensure security for the future. I remind you,’ he continued, ‘that we are not fighting against a foreign foe, but our brothers, and that our aim is not to break their spirits but only to bring back their allegiance. Conquer them with kindness—let that be our policy.’ 2

Lincoln’s policy can be our policy. We can rise above anger and be gentle with the young, considerate of the aged, tolerant with those who rankle us, and patient with those who stumble or charge at lightning speed. We can smile rather than point fingers. We can offer a listening ear rather than a cold shoulder. We can forget about past wrongs and go forward shaping and reshaping relationships. We can proffer a compliment. And, yes, we can even let someone ahead of us on the road or in the grocery line.

[A friend of mine posted an article about letting someone ahead of you on the road–The Physics Behind Traffic Jams.  If you read nothing else from the article, read the short section under Merging Lane Traffic Jams, A Simple Cure.  Letting people in in front of you is true.]

We can ‘conquer with kindness,’ and we will positively influence our corner of the world.