Kindness

Ephesians 4:32 tells us to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”. I’ve thought a lot about kindness lately, don’t know why, just had it on my mind. I’ve thought about how easy it is to be kind to people, it doesn’t cost anything. It comes naturally to most of us if we just think about it, make a little effort, smile and just be nice. Mama use to say, ya’ll play nice and don’t be mean. If you smile at someone, it’s almost impossible for them not to smile back, try it and you’ll see. The more I’ve thought about this, the more I have noticed how many people are kind to me, smile, speak, hold the door, let me go ahead in line; and how good it makes me feel.


They tell the story of an elderly lady who went to the Post Office nearly every day to buy a stamp or two. Sometimes if the line was long, it appeared she had difficulty standing quietly waiting her turn. The employees wondered why she came so often instead of buying a book or roll of stamps. One particularly busy day when the line was long someone suggested it would be faster to use the vending machine. Oh my no she said, the clerks are so kind to me, they smile and ask how I’m doing or how I feel; the machines don’t do that.

Someone asked, what is your kindness quotient; when was the last time you did something kind for someone in your family? Kind hearts are quietly kind. They let the car cut into traffic; they let the mom with young children go ahead in the checkout line. People are watching the way we act more than they’re listening to what we say. Kindness, like love has its source in God. “But after that the kindness and love of God our saviour toward man appeared”. Titus 3:4

BEGIN TODAY

So brief a time we have to stay, along this dear, familiar way; it seems to me we should be kind, to those whose lives touch yours and mine;

The hands that serve us every day, should we not help them while we may? They are so kind that none can guess how soon they’ll cease our lives to bless.

The hearts that love us, who may know; how soon the long, long way must go. Then might we not their faults forgive; and make them happy while they live?

So many faults in life there are, we need not go to seek them far; but time is short and you and I, might let the little faults go by.

And seek for what is true and fine, in those whose lives touch yours and mine. This seems to me the better way. Then why not, friend, begin today?