Always Be Kind

“I was the poor kid growing up,” wrote Sherry Vonderhaar-Adair on her facebook page.

“My mom used to send me to birthday parties with no present, just so I could eat. I definitely got to a point where I understood and was embarrassed as h—,” she recalls.

Sherry then related this story. “In fifth grade, my friend’s mom invited me to sleep over the night before the actual birthday party. When her daughter was in the shower, the mom laid out the toys that she had bought her daughter for her birthday. She let me pick one to wrap and put my name on.”

In reflecting on this day, Sherry said, “I’m 37 now. I am still grateful to that mom. That one act made such an impact on me.”

Then she added, “Always be kind.”

If you see someone falling behind, walk beside them.

If someone is being ignored, find a way to include them.

If someone has been knocked down, lift them up.

Always remind people of their worth.

Be who you needed when you were going through hard times.

Just one small act of kindness could mean the world to someone.

Sherry’s story is both poignant and powerful. Kindness is a quality that seems to be sorely lacking in today’s culture. Political partisans and pundits hurl harsh, hateful, and insensitive insults describing their opponents. Unkind and cutting words are too often heard in homes of Christian husbands and wives. Harsh comments are often expressed on social media toward brethren who hold a different view on a subject, impugning their motives, maligning their character, and mocking their convictions.

God’s Word reminds us to be kind.

In the great love chapter of 1 Corinthians, the Bible says, “Love is kind” (1 Cor. 13:4).

Paul admonished brethren, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 3:32).

In contrast to the works of the flesh that include enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and envy is the fruit of the spirit characterized by joy, peace, patience, and kindness (Gal. 5:20-22).

Peter penned that one of the Christian graces involves an attitude and demonstration of brotherly kindness (1 Pet. 5:22).

We have an innate understanding of kindness. It doesn’t require a complex definition, or intensive investigation of the Greek words. When little children are unkind and their parents say, “Be kind,” or “Be nice,” they understand what that means. What we need is kindness demonstrated in our lives.

Kind people…

…build up and encourage others.
…speak graciously.
…show compassion.
…express sympathy and empathy.
…listen thoughtfully.
…seek to understand, rather than be understood.
…patiently deal with the foibles of others.
…do good deeds.
…massage their wife’s hurting feet.
…sincerely compliment their friends.
…treat their spouse with respect, dignity, and honor.
…considerately accept the apologies of others.
…ask forgiveness when they’re wrong.
…soothe the hearts of the hurting.
…cut other people some slack.
…express gratitude.
…respond quickly to others’ needs.
…show flexibility when things don’t go their way.
…are honest, trustworthy, and dependable.
…allow others to go first.
…minister to “the least of these.”
…love the unlovable.

The prayer of the little girl at bed time would go a long way in making the world, our homes, and the church a better place when she prayed, “Lord, help the bad people to be good. And the good people to be kind.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman