Biblical Answer

The Power of Small Acts of Kindness

Small acts of kindness can indeed bring new life to our relationships when we're feeling tired. When we're in a relationship with someone who is struggling with depression, it's easy to feel drained and hopeless. However, by choosing to serve and love this person in a sustained way, we can begin to see positive changes in our emotions and behavior. As James Dobson notes, "If you do not give up, but proceed to love the unlovely in a sustained way, they will eventually become lovely to you." This is because our actions have the power to transform our feelings and attitudes towards others.

One of the key ways that small acts of kindness can bring new life to our relationships is by helping us to overcome feelings of self-pity and resentment. When we're feeling tired and worn out, it's easy to become consumed by negative emotions and to start to feel sorry for ourselves. However, by choosing to serve our partner or loved one, we can begin to shift our focus away from our own needs and towards the needs of others. This can help us to cultivate a sense of compassion and empathy, and to see our partner or loved one in a new and more positive light.

In addition to helping us to overcome negative emotions, small acts of kindness can also help to bring new life to our relationships by creating a sense of connection and intimacy. When we show our partner or loved one that we care about them and are willing to serve them, it can help to build trust and strengthen our bond with them. As the Bible teaches, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) By choosing to love and serve our partner or loved one in a sustained way, we can begin to build a relationship that is characterized by love, kindness, and compassion.