I just started The Love Dare, again. It has been several years since my wife and I went through the 40-day challenge. I am on Day 2. Day 1 is Love is Patient. The Dare for Day 1 is “to say nothing negative to your spouse at all.” So yesterday, I succeeded. Day 2 is Love is Kind. The author says that “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…. Love makes you kind. And kindness makes you likeable.” Kindness is broken down into four measureable actions:
1. Gentleness. The Bible calls this virtue “meekness” in Ephesians 4:2. If we are gentle we are not harsh.
2. Helpfulness. “Being kind means you meet the needs of the moment. If it’s housework,you get busy.” My wife is sick today, so this one is easy. I went to the grocery store to get her favorite sick soup. Fix it. Served it.
3. Willingness. “Kindness inspires you to be agreeable. Instead of being obstinate, reluctant or stubborn, you cooperate, you stay flexible.” No rolling of the eyes permitted.
4. Initiative. “Kindness thinks ahead, then makes the first step. The kind husband or wife will be the one who greets first, smiles first, serves first, and forgives first.”
The Dare for Day 2: “In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindess.” Later this evening I am going to get Becky a McDonald’s parfait.
