I think kindness is underrated. It’s a bit like the word “nice”. Sometimes you gotta use it, but when you do, it seems bland and unimaginative. Kindness is a “fruit of the Holy Spirit” mentioned in the Bible – one of a list of those things against which there is no law:
“…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” – Galatians 5:22-23
If you’re all about bringing about change for the good to your community, one of the easiest ways you can do that is by letting the “fruit of the Holy Spirit” be evident in your life. Imagine the kind of hope and positive change we could bring to our communities if we chose love over hate, joy over despair, peace over violence, patience over impatience, kindness over cruelty… You get my drift.
The dictionary definition of kindness is: “The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate”. To me, kindness reveals our innate humanity. It’s what makes us pause and notice each other. Kindness is what slows us down long enough to be grateful.
There are many untold stories of kindness being shown to strangers but one recently received global attention. It’s the story of a father who helped a struggling mom on a flight in the US. The pregnant woman was flying alone with her young son when he became upset and was crying. A man got up from his seat and went over to the expectant mother, not to complain about the noise, but to offer to help her.
For much of the flight from Minneapolis to Atlanta this stranger walked up and down the aisle comforting the boy as if he was his own son. This act of kindness from one stranger to another moved many on that flight to tears. It was a powerful example of a dad who noticed a need beyond himself, stepped outside of his comfort zone and did something to help.
Have you seen kindness on display this week or have you been kind to someone?
This is a great reminder: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always”.
Because kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, it’s consistently displayed through the person who is filled with the Holy Spirit and that happens when we know God through Jesus Christ. When we surrender our own, selfish will to God’s will, He gives us the ability to look beyond ourselves to the needs of others. Only then are we able to be truly kind.
Of all the good that governments, organisations, charities and churches do to bring change to communities, I’m counting on kindness from people like you and me to bring real, lasting change.