Over the course of my long Nursing Administrative career in Gerontology & Alzheimer’s Disease I asked this question to countless families as they journeyed through the uncharted waters of end of life issues with their loved ones. Across Proverbs we are told to be kind to the poor, the needy, and the oppressed…in Jeremiah 9:24 we are told that it is the Lord Who exercises kindness, where as in Isaiah 63:7, Isaiah proclaims that, “I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord.” So looking to the Lord as our example, what does this word kindness really mean in the Bible? It is loving mercifully…our actions filled with grace, and void of any harshness or rigidness. It’s taking our selfish wishes and desires out of the picture and focusing rather on the other person and their needs. Was this question tough to ask? You’d better believe it, but by asking this difficult question, it brought into focus the reality of the situation…how unrealistic expectations were no longer attainable…and eventually, it would gently lead families to make hard decisions, but the kindest thing.
Safetypinlove 