Written by: Sister Maxine Shackelford
Guiding Scripture:
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.” Matthew 7:12 ESV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
Kindness- (n.) the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
Kindness – from a biblical stance; is selfless, compassionate, and merciful; its greatest power revealed in practice to our enemies and amongst the least of these. Love your neighbor; show kindness to EVERYONE.
Galatians 5:22-23 depicts kindness as one of the Fruit of the Spirit, which comes from a heart posture of gratitude. But also, sincerity in treating one another with respect and niceness. Like love, kindness takes practice. We share love with others through kind acts such as a smile, a nice word, an unexpected deed, or a planned surprise. Since kindness can be one of the “love languages” and a God-given attribute, it is very important to me to write about 1) its true meaning, 2) what the Holy Bible says, and 3) what God expects of us. As I sought the Holy Spirit for His wisdom for this article, I was reminded of an incident that happened during a recent trip to Little Rock, Ar. I was at a local Walgreens to print photos for an upcoming presentation when I approached the photo area and sat in a chair. Almost instantly, a distressed young man who appeared to either be homeless or just getting off from work, turned to me. “Ma’am I’m using that; can you wait just a minute?” he said before refocusing on his conversation with the young lady behind the counter. Apparently, he was back at the store a second day trying to retrieve money from his sister via Western Union. The clerk lent him her cell phone, and his sister was on the other end. He explained the machine kept rejecting the code word she had given him. From the looks of things, he really needed the money. At that point, the Holy Spirit prompted me to ask him to let me try, so I did, but to no avail. We entered all the correct information, but it was just not letting us retrieve the money. His sister was still on the phone, and the young lady was being very patient with him, doing everything she could do to help. The sister told the clerk to ask him if he had a Cash App. He said he did, but no longer had phone service. As he persisted, I was starting to get a little impatient because I’d borrowed my sister’s car and didn’t want her to be worried. When I left her, she was getting ready to take a nap, and I didn’t want to disturb her. But I also wanted him to get the money. “I have a Cash App,” I interjected. “How much money is your sister trying to send you?” “Forty dollars,” he said. I told him that I would give him the cash, if his sister didn’t mind sending it to my account. He turned and looked at me. “You would do that for me?” he said. “Yes,” I responded. I spoke to his sister, and she asked me if I knew her brother. I told her no, and that I was actually in Little Rock on vacation and had just left a funeral. We exchanged information, and he waited to make sure the transaction was complete, and I was reimbursed. Overwhelmed with appreciation, he motioned to hug me. “If I wasn’t so dir…,” he started. But before he could finish the sentence, I reached out and embraced him. “God loves you, and I do too!” I told him. I could tell he was a very intelligent, tech savvy young man. He told me he had been drug free for over six months but relapsed after losing his mother on Mother’s Day. I didn’t have the opportunity to pray with him then but vowed to do so later. The young lady behind the register was elated and I felt pretty good myself! “That young man will never forget you, and your act of kindness,” she said. It was at that moment that the Holy Spirit revealed to me that kindness should be unforgettable! True kindness is taught to us in Ephesians 4:31-32: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, just as in Christ God forgave you.” The Bible mentions “kindness” in over 200 instances and “kind” over 400 times. It’s an act of charity, or the (figurative and spiritual) lifting up of others. God’s Word offers wisdom for threading this godly attribute into our lives, even when disagreeing.
Here are 9 Ways To Show Kindness:
1. Focus on others. Kindness puts others at the center.
2. Offer a helping hand.
3. Be there to listen.
4. Send care packages — no matter how small.
5. Stay connected.
6. Expect good things to happen and be a positive light.
7. Smile at others.
8. Compliment others.
9. Say “Thank You and “I’m Sorry”.
Lovingkindness [Official Lyric Video] – Matt Redman, …
References: Holy Bible
Emily Crawford – 9 Ways To Show Kindness ARTICLE
Written by Sister Maxine Shackelford
Grandmothers of Hope Society Ministry