But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
(Luke 6:35 ESV)
A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
(Proverbs 11:17 ESV)
You may not always see the results of your kindness, but every bit of positive energy you contribute to the world makes it a better place for all of us.
What exactly is kindness? According to Oxford Languages, kindness is “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.”
That’s not a hard job, is it? Some people think so. It seems like some people would rather dry up and blow away than be kind to someone. Being kind doesn’t mean you have to bend over backward for someone. But there are those people who think you should. Being kind to me means a kind word, a smile. Letting someone go ahead of you in a checkout lane when you have a basket full and they only have a few things. Being kind is making a meal for someone who isn’t feeling well. Picking up someone who doesn’t have a way to church or the store, etc. Being kind means looking out for your neighbors. Checking on the elderly who may not have anyone who checks on them.
There are a lot of ways to be kind to others. Was Jesus unkind to anyone? He had plenty of opportunity. He even asked God to forgive the ones who crucified Him. That might be a little hard for me. I would want to be telling God to get them. Get even with them. But He didn’t. He asked for forgiveness for them. Now that is the definition of kindness in my book.
I think we all need to take a page out of Jesus’s playbook and forgive those who do us wrong instead of asking God to get them for hurting His kid.
Have a blessed day, everyone.
Kathy Keller
Writer and Prayer warrior with Answers2Prayer Ministries
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