We often think of kindness as being nice or pleasant to someone. But I want us to consider kindness as more purposeful today. Ephesians 4:32 says that we are to be “kind and compassionate to one another.” But what does that look like?
I recently read a series of stories about individuals who set out for the very purpose of being kind. One was a mother of three who lost her husband to brain cancer. She began a movement, using his birthday to perform random acts of kindness. A fireman from New York went on a 9,500 mile trip to visit the home towns of each of the 58 victims of the Las Vegas shooting from last October. He performed such deeds as – leaving taped envelopes with coins on machines at the Laundromat; buying lunch for the staff of a pediatric urgent care clinic; and giving out bracelets bearing the name of his mission “Honor58” obtaining a commitment from the recipient to continue his mission of spreading kindness.
These individuals were ordinary people who were inspired to do extraordinary things in the name of kindness. According to the scriptures, being kind to our fellowman is one of God’s purposes for our journey through this life. So, I wonder – what might you and I do today in relation to family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers that would purposefully fulfill our own mission of kindness? I would love to hear what you come up with.