Be Kind
January 24, 2021 — Laura House
Our children grew up knowing that they were privileged to have each other. I can still hear myself saying, “Not everyone has a brother or sister. You guys are so lucky!”
Not that they didn’t get into the usual sibling squabbles once in a while, especially since they were highly competitive, but at the end of the day, they were inseparable friends. It just wasn’t an option to be unkind to each other, and if somehow one of them slipped up, an apology was made and forgiveness extended. Throughout the years, their closeness continued to deepen and they were each other’s best friends.
All three of my kids were kind and I saw it every day. Whether it was visiting our elderly neighbor; volunteering at the local museum, church, college, or at other events; playing checkers and making crafts with residents of the local nursing home; or helping make cookies to share with others; the kids enthusiastically participated. Kindness was valued in the House house, and I see it still pervading everything my grown children do today.
Once when Nathan was a senior in college, he walked into the kitchen, chuckling, and said, “Well, I’m pretty sure I just got taken.” Asking him to elaborate, he shared his story of taking a Foxytronics shipment to the post office and of being approached by an older lady who told him she needed money to “find a new place to stay” because her son had thrown her out. The woman continued telling him a many-faceted saga, and Nathan, full of compassion, reached into his wallet and gave her $50. Fifty dollars! Nathan was a college student with meager means and was incredibly thrifty, so that was a huge amount to him. Only after giving her the money did he start to realize that her story had some holes in it, and perhaps she wasn’t really without options. That fact was fully realized when she proceeded to ask Nathan if he would drop her off at her daughter’s house...and he did.
When I think about the events surrounding Nathan’s death, I am overwhelmed by the kindness that was extended to us. Helping us in so many ways, compassionate family, friends, and complete strangers ministered to us in ways too numerous to share. If you are one of those people, thank you once again.
The theme of kindness permeates Scripture, beginning with God’s infinite kindness to us, His beloved creation. Jesus demonstrated to us how to show kindness to those around us, not just those who love us, but everyone. As the Apostle Paul wrote letters to various churches, he consistently exhorted them to be kind to one another. There is no question that kindness is not an optional quality for us to exhibit. When we love the Lord with all of our hearts, minds, and souls, the fruits of the Spirit will be apparent in our lives; and kindness is one of those.
Who can you minister to today? Perhaps a friend who has lost someone they love? Someone who is hurting from a difficult life situation?
Without even leaving our homes today, we can send a text, email, or make a call. We can “love on someone” with our powerful words of encouragement, such as an “I’m thinking of you and love you” message, or a simple reminder letting them know that they are on our hearts and that we are lifting them to the Lord today. What would the Church look like if each of us demonstrated simple active kindness to someone every day? Let’s see!
Ephesians 4:32 — “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Colossians 3:12 — "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Galatians 5:22-23 — "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
