Kindness … it has a nice mellow sound to it, but kindness is not really the soft marshmallow emotion we sometimes conjure up. It isn’t an emotion at all. Kindness is an action-oriented behavior born of a strong, tough, persevering fruit. Kindness is a bright beacon of light in a dark world; kindness offers help and hope; kindness mimics God’s character in the lives of ordinary people.
God’s kindness to us is expressed in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:7)
Kindness is a characteristic of love (I Corinthians 13:4)
A person who is kind to the needy is blessed (Proverbs 14:21) and honors God (Proverbs 14:31)
Luke 6:35 – 36
Jesus told us to love our enemies and do good to them. He wanted us to lend to them without expecting repayment. Then He said our reward would be great and we … would be sons of the Most High … because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
When the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of kindness in our lives, it permeates every situation and grows in exact proportion to the freedom it is given.
Sarah and her daughter had fought last night – the teen years were rockier than she had known. Sarah watched as her daughter slowly came into the living room holding her wrinkled dress for tonight’s dance. Smiling and giving a quick hug, Sarah took the dress to press. She never heard a thank you.
Tired and just turning off the lights after a full day, Sarah was stopped by a knock at the door. The neighbor who had steadfastly given only anger and a cold shoulder to Sarah now stood before her. Her hair was mussed, her lip was bloody and tears spilled down her cheeks.
Sarah took a breath and gently led the neighbor into her house. She put on a pot of tea and carefully bathed the face of the broken woman. Then Sarah listened as the night stole in and the neighbor unloaded the darkness of her life.
Kindness can be big or small but should never be withheld or allowed to wither. It is a fruit that builds the kingdom of God.
Kindness – no repayment expected … a fruit born of persevering in the presence of the Lord … growing stronger and more nourishing as it is freed into a life.
In the words of the popular song … Let It Go … KINDNESS!