Kindness in Action
What if one act of kindness could change lives?
“No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted.” Aesop.
“Where ever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.”Lucius Seneca.
Tony Campolo tells about an incident that happened to him on his way to work walking along the sidewalk pathways of downtown. Tony would often pass by a number of homeless and transient people. From time to time they would make request for money; generally, he ignored them. One day a bag lady who he had seen before in his mad rush to get to work, shuffled out of a donut shop with a steaming hot cup of coffee, their eyes met and Tony forced a smile. Putting down her coat and bags she called out, “Hey Mr would you like a sip of my coffee?”
If you were Tony, how would you respond? Keep walking and ignore her? That’s what Tony did or at least he started to, after a few metres he turned back and said to the lady, “Yes, yes I would like a taste of your coffee.”
She held out the cup with her dirty hand. He took the cup and swallowed what had to be the most delicious cup of coffee yet tasted in a long time.
“Isn’t it good” she said.
“Yes it’s good and thank you. By the way why did you offer me your coffee?”
“Because it was so good, I thought someone might like to share it with me and enjoy it too.” She replied.
A small simple act of kindness from a stranger interrupted Tony’s walk to the office.
Kindness comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes, yet regardless, we all appreciate a kind act.
What is kindness? By definition; ‘the quality of being friendly generous and considerate.” Anything that fills a potential need for someone, is an act of kindness.
Kindness doesn’t come naturally. Kindness isn’t a state of mind or a mood. It is an intentional action. It needs to flow naturally from us. Kindness isn’t just a matter of inserting a coin into someone’s parking meter or donating to some charity or doing a favour without asking anything in return. Good as that is. Kindness comes from within.
Kindness is one of the fruit of the Spirit within us. We have to learn how to develop it by implementing kindness in our everyday life. Sometimes it might not have anything to do with helping strangers. It may well have to do with how we treat those we know well, practising forgiveness and practising kindness. It begins by listening to our spouse, our children, our family, and those we work alongside. Listen intently. Do not be quick to take offence when a careless word is spoken or when a child does something or says something unkind. Practice kindness with those we love and know best. This is where kindness begins and is best practiced.
Quaker Stephen Grellet wrote, “I expect to pass through this world but once, any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to my fellow creature, let me do it now, let me not defer to neglect for I shall not pass this way again.”
Finally, kindness will take action. Kindness is willing to pay the price, to put others first. It does not seek recognition. Kindness is not there to elevate our reputation, or make us look good in the eyes of other people. Real kindness does not seek to find glory for oneself. Kindness demonstrates the love of God through our actions!
“Be kind, one to another……….”
