I knew that I would love the reCreate women’s conference in Birmingham, Ala.

A few days with two of my daughters, my niece and a couple of friends had all of the makings of a relaxing girls getaway.

What I didn’t anticipate was how much I would enjoy the actual teaching sessions, but they were kicked off with a great start.

Charlotte Gambill, who pastors LIFE Church in the UK with her husband, was one of the speakers. The first time I heard her speak was at a luncheon when she was asked her opinion on the most important characteristic of a leader.

After listing several possible answers, she concluded with, “But I believe they should be kind.”

She continued to say that sometimes, as leaders grow, they forget to be considerate and gracious.

They often preach at people, rather than minister to them.

Now it’s easy for me to sit at a beautifully decorated table, eating delicious food and nod in agreement to sweet words that are not just for leaders, but for everyone.

It’s a little more challenging to walk away and put that advice into practice.

I think that I’m kind to people I know, meet and come in contact with in church, malls or restaurants.

But I have to be honest. I become easily annoyed when I’m on the phone straightening out credit card problems, rescheduling appointments for repairmen who didn’t show up or scheduling repairs for an appliance that was never fixed.

That’s when the words from Proverbs 11:17 loop through my thoughts, and I’m so grateful for the wisdom of those words. “Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel.”

I’m going to have another opportunity to show kindness when I make a phone call this afternoon about my washing machine.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.