What a great opportunity to be kind we have at church. We can be welcoming and accepting of every single person there. Church should be a judgement-free zone. It should be a bully-free zone. We are all in this together.

If you are headed to church, I hope you'll remember the phrase "In the quiet heart is hidden, sorrow that they eye can't see." Let's choose to be kind to all who walk through the doors of the church. A chapel, like a hospital, is open for all people with all different types of problems. Some problems are more visible than others. Realize that you only know a small portion of their real story. If you knew them better, you'd understand. So let's welcome and accept everyone we interact with at church, no matter how they're dressed, what they smell like, how many piercings they have, how many tattoos we see, or the words they use. They likely think they don't live as "righteously" as you do and they came anyway. That took courage. Be as merciful to others as you hope God will be merciful to you.

A hug, a handshake, a genuine smile, a friendly conversation, could change a life today.