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THE KIND AND TENDER-HEARTED CHRISTIAN "The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh." (Proverbs 11:17)William Somerset Maugham, 1874 – 1965, was an English writer known for his many plays, novels and short stories. His mother, by the world's standard, was an extraordinarily beautiful woman who was married to, by that same standard, an extraordinarily ugly man. A rather pious and somewhat snooty friend of the family once privately asked her, "How could such a beautiful woman like yourself marry such an ugly man like your husband?"She immediately replied, "My husband has never once hurt my feelings in a cruel way by being mean and hateful to me or with anyone else he has ever met. His precious heart is filled with mercy, and in my eyes, he's the most handsome, tender-hearted, and kindest man I have ever known."You know folks, kindness always makes a person's face attractive, and mercy is heard in their voice speaking with words that are tender-hearted and precious. Is that not true of our Heavenly Father? Of course it is! Well, the Psalmist thought so as well, and with a heart filled with praise he penned those words, "For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 117:2)Friends, if our desire is to be Christ-like with a tender and forgiving heart toward those around us who are daily troubled and tormented by the ugliness of sin's disfigurement, then allow the Holy Spirit within us to do His work by blessing our words with kindness and mercy instead of allowing self to blast away with words of meanness and hatred.