Kindness is a simple quality and a common trait of good people. It means to be nice, respectful, or friendly and it can be shown in many ways. In it's best form it is given to others freely, without conditions, stipulations and without any expectation of anything in return. It is a general trait that we as humans and especially Christians should spread amongst each other.
The Bible says that kindness is a fruit of the spirit and is evidence of God's Spirit within a person. There are many stories about kindness in the Bible. One particular story that I am reminded of this morning is from Genesis Chapter 24. In this story Abraham sent his servant to find his son Isaac a wife. Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a woman in the area that they lived in. He wanted him to have a wife from his own family lineage.
So his servant was went to Mesopotamia to find Isaac a wife. The servant prayed to God for a specific sign so that he would recognize the woman he was looking for. It came to pass that Rebekah came to the well where he was sitting and filled her pitcher with water. The servant asked her for a drink of water and she not only gave him a drink but she gave drink to his camels as well. In that moment he knew he had found the right woman because she was kind. She had shown a total stranger a simple act of kindness.
I witness a simple act of kindness last week as I drove to work. It was about 7am and I stopped behind a car at the red light. As we stopped a man carrying several bags walked along side our vehicles. The couple in the car in front of me, spoke to the man and he approached their car. They gave him a cigarette. They man was about to leave but I could see that their conversation continued. They then handed the man what seemed to be a handful of change. I watched at the man slide the money in his pocket and walk away, with his head held a little higher and his cigarette in hand.
As the man walked away the light turned green and we were all back on our way, to our separate destinations for the day. This touched me and put a smile on my face. One simple act of kindness had a positive effect on the givers, the receiver and a bystander that just happening to witness their good deed. It all happened in the span of the red light. It doesn't take much time to brighten someone else's day.
Seeing that made me determined to try to touch someone's life in the same way. To pay it forward. You never know how that positivity will ripple out into the world. Let us all remember to be kind to those around us, especially those less fortunate. A small thing for us may be enough to motivate and encourage someone in unknown ways.
Be Kind. A simple act of kindness at the red light made my day. Do what you can to change someone else's day.
Galatians 5:22-23 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
2 Corinthians 6:6 6By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
1 Samuel 20:14 14And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:
2 Samuel 9:7 7And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
Acts 28:2 2And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
For the complete story above about Abraham, Isaac and the servant , please read the complete chapter of Genesis 24.