While doing research on various internet sites, I learned
that Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, the fourth child of Alois Hitler
and Klara Polzl, and was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church. His father was tremendously violent to his
wife and son and used to beat them often.
Some sources report that Adolf wanted to be a priest and a painter, but
eventually ran away from home to escape the brutal treatment of his father. One statement in the link below stood out to
me: “He spent his early life seeking a suitable mentor that would approve of
him and guide him. This he was never
able to do.” More about his childhood
can be found here: http://voices.yahoo.com/the-psychological-development-adolf-hitler-10161873.html?cat=72
Benito Mussolini was born July 29, 1883, and was known for
his bullying and violence even in childhood.
He was expelled from school at age 10 for stabbing a classmate. As a youth, he stabbed his girlfriend in the
arm, pinched people at church (Roman Catholic) to make them cry, and led gangs
of boys on raids throughout his community.
http://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-mussolini
How many other names could we list whose treatment at home
mirrors that of these two dictators?
What is wrong with the world? Why
all the violence? These are questions we
ask when we hear of tragic school shootings, bombings and killings in our
nation and around the world.
Consider kindness.
What would happen if we all obeyed these five little words from the
Bible: “Be kind to one another?” (Ephesians 4:32, ESV) How would it affect your children, your
relatives, if we "stepped up" our kindness quota? Could we be kind to a young person like Hitler or Mussolini and perhaps change his life's direction?
How exactly does one define “kindness?” Webster’s Ninth Collegiate Dictionary says it
means “Affectionate, loving; of a sympathetic nature; disposed to be helpful
and solicitous; of a forbearing nature; gentle; arising from or characterized
by sympathy or forbearance, of a kind to give pleasure or relief.”
Are we affectionate in heart toward people? Are we sympathetic, gentle and
forbearing? Or are we demanding, harsh,
critical, and worse: physically abusive to family members or others?
How may world history have been different if Adolf Hitler
had been able to “find a suitable mentor that would approve of him and guide
him?” How may world history have been
different if Mussolini and other violent people had someone in their life to
show them kindness? If just one person,
if not a parent, then a teacher, a neighbor, or some adult had showed kindness
and godly influence to Hitler, would six million Jews have died? How many millions of impoverished,
persecuted, and ravaged citizens in many countries would have a good life if
their leaders were kind?
We as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have a mandate from
our King: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just
as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, NIV) Look for ways you can be kind to someone
today. Let it come from a heart filled
with compassion and caring for people.
Here are some ideas from a website:
http://loveistheword.org/101-random-acts-of-kindness/
I leave you with this poem by Dorothy Law Nolte (1954):
Children Learn What
They Live
If a child lives with criticism
He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility
He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule
He learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance
He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement
He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise
He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness
He learns justice.
If a child lives with security
He learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval
He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance
And friendship he learns to
Find love in the world.
God bless you, dear reader, as you do random acts of
kindness!
Copyright © 2013 Elaine Beachy
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