Hug It Out

Hug It Out

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

My children have learned that there is nothing that will bring down the wrath of Mom faster than their turning on one another with unkind words, harsh tones, or physical touch that’s meant to cause pain or fear.

I have zero tolerance for treating loved ones in ways that are unloving or unkind (even if he is sometimes a pesky little brother and despite the fact that she can be a bossy big sister). We may get angry with one another, but we do not undermine the loving relationships we have in our family—at least not within Mom’s keen earshot.

It is relatively easy to be kind to random strangers because we don’t have to live with them every day. The real test is learning to be kind to the people you do life with day in and day out, year after year—especially when they mess with your doll collection, throw leaves at you while you’re walking the dog, or are forever bossing you around. We frequently learn kindness (or its opposite) from our interactions with our siblings, and I want those interactions to be positive and affirming.

My mom is a wise woman, and she used to make my two brothers and me hug one another after a disagreement. I realized at an early age that I just couldn’t hold on to my anger when I was attempting to squeeze the life out of—I mean, hug—my little brother. I’d try my darndest to stay mad, but it never worked. It didn’t work for my brothers, either, and soon we’d be laughing and playing, the cause of the argument forgiven and often forgotten. I’ve adopted the same hug-it-out strategy in my house, and it works just as well now as it did then.

The more we practice the actions of showing kindness and forgiving quickly, the more tenderhearted we will become toward others. What better place to practice these qualities than right at home with our own families?

—Julie

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

The next time you feel frustrated with someone you love, give them a bear hug instead.