Things we don't hear much!

I believe of all christian graces developed in a believer's life, the one that blesses most other people is the grace of thoughtfulness. It is the result of a humble heart before GOD, a heart full of sympathy and love for others and a desire to live a life of sanctification, doing all things as unto HIM.

It blesses most because the heart moves away from its fleshly inclinations of pleasing self and turns itself to GOD and what 'HE would have us to do unto others'.

It blesses because one of the consequences of a thoughtful heart is that it seeks to comfort and edify with kind, appropriate,timely words and deeds.

Thoughtfulness is thinking of others, and modifying one's conduct so as to avoid whatever would give trouble, inconvenience, or hurt to others.

In a world that praises self-assertion, self-centeredness and self love it is not often that we hear how God-glorifying the grace of thoughtfulness is.   

J.R. Miller  has written this beautiful, short article on The grace of thoughtfulness (1896).

Two more quote if you are not yet convinced about reading it. :)

There are some rare Christians who seem born for thoughtfulness. They have a genius for sympathy. Instinctively they seem to understand the experiences of pain in others, and from their heart there flows always a blessing of tenderness which is full of healing. This is the highest and holiest ministry of love. It is not softness nor weakness; it is strength—but strength enriched by divine gentleness. Not all love possesses this crowning quality. There is love that is heedless, and lacks the fine sense of others' feelings which is needed to make it perfect in its helpfulness.

Thoughtfulness is one of the truest and best tests of a noble Christian character. Thoughtlessness is rudeness, boorishness. It is selfishness, cold-heartedness. (...)

In older days, in sermons and in prayers, much reference was made to sins, as divided into those of omission and those of commission. In the confession of sins, the worshiper acknowledges that he has left undone—the things he ought to have done. Perhaps we give altogether too little attention to our sins of omission. We may think we are living fairly well, because we do not commit grave and flagrant errors and sins; but how about the other side of our life? Are we doing the thousand acts of kindness, which sincere love would prompt? Do not the weary, and the heart-hungry, and the tempted, and the struggling, and the needy—pass by us continually, with their silent appeals to us for what we have to give them—yet pass by in vain? [bold emphasis not in the original]

May the LORD be pleased to enrich us in this grace.  

 Read the Grace of Thoughtfulness