Kindness

One of the first Bible verses I learned as a child was “Be ye kind one to another”.  It wasn’t a difficult verse to learn, but it wasn’t always easy to demonstrate. I’ve encountered many kind people in my lifetime. Some I’ve admired. Some I’ve wanted to emulate.

When I started working at the school district years ago, I worked as a high school secretary. After one high school graduation a young lady returned to tell me that if it hadn’t been for the kindness of the principal and myself {she felt} she would not have made it to graduation. She had left her home and was living with someone besides her family. She felt alone, behind in her education and that she’d never graduate. She told me that I had been the first person she encountered on her enrollment day, that I was kind and encouraging to her and that this gesture had made a huge difference in her life.   

She did the work and graduated. But, I’ve never forgotten how the act of kindness (and not just from me) to this child made a difference. Being kind to each other isn’t always the first thing we want to be, but it matters so much.  

Kindness is a change agent for both the receiver and the giver.

 ^“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)



Scripture source: Holy Bible, Biblegateway.com