Week Two: "The Hidden Power of Kindness" Ch. 1-Pt. 1

Hello everyone! I'm so excited to finally jump into our  Book Club - this week we are covering the first half of Chapter One of  Father Lawrence Lovasik's The Hidden Power of Kindness: A Practical Handbook for Souls Who Dare to Transform The World, One Deed At a Time.Is it just me or is Father Lovasik kicking anyone else in the tail???OUCH is all I have to say. Ever hear the saying "the devil is in the details?"  That pretty much sums up my reading of this first part of chapter 1.  I consider myself to be a fairly kind person but what really struck me was that the places I most often fall down are the little things - like punctuality, remembering things like anniversaries and birthdays and being considerate not just to the strangers on the street, but also to the people who are closest to me. I convince myself that these little things don't matter, but as Father Lovasik rightly points out, it is often the little acts of kindness that have the most impact on both the receiver and the giver. While I was very challenged by the first half of Chapter 1, I was also encouraged by it. Reading it make me realize that I have operated on the assumption that I need to perform grandiose acts in order for them to be meaningful.  I have learned that small gestures, like a word of encouragement or a smile count!My favorite quote:This book is full of quotable quotes, but this one particularly jumped off the page at me.  What a great visual!  Kindness costs nothing to the giver!  Like the candle that does not lose any of itself by lighting another, kindness only grows when it is given away. I was reminded of the words of the Lord in Luke's Gospel: "Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." (Luke 6:38)Questions for Reflection:Each week I'll share some journal starters for your own personal reflection and prayer. You are welcome to share your thoughts on these in the comments or ponder them in your own heart.

1. Father Lovasik states: "Your charity must include yourself, because you are loved by God." (p20). Often, the person we find it most difficult to be kind to is ourselves.  In what ways have I not been kind to myself? How has this lack of kindness to myself negatively impacted my ability to be kind to others?
2. On page 12, Father Lovasik lays out the rules for membership in the "Fraternity of Kindness".  Which rules do I find easier to keep - those which prohibit unkind words and actions or those which encourage the performance of positive acts of kindness.  

Personal Resolutions: I always find it helpful to put what I have learned into practice and since this book is full of practical suggestions, it really lends itself to some tangible resolutions.  My plan is to make a new, attainable resolution for the upcoming week. For this coming week I am committing to speaking or writing an encouraging word to someone each day.This week's readings:  This week we'll complete Chapter 1 from page 26-46.Please share your thoughts in the comments below! Click here to view all of "The Hidden Power of Kindness" Book Club posts.Be sure not to miss a post by subscribing today to receive new posts directly in your email by entering your email address below.You can also connect with Saints365 via Social Media: Please note that this post contains Amazon Affiliate links - which means if you click through and shop at Amazon, our domestic church will receive a small commission - we greatly appreciate it!