I love the truth of this quote by Aesop, the fable writer many of us read as young children. Kindness is also mentioned as one of the fruits of the Spirit listed by Paul in Galatians 5. In Ephesians 4:32 he also wrote, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." So how can we incorporate kindness into our daily lifestyle? It begins with intentionality.
Even the smallest act of kindness has proven to have a ripple effect. Try smiling at someone who appears to be having a bad day. Not only will it subconsciously elevate your mood, but because the human brain is programmed to recognize facial expressions, you may receive a smile in return.
Next time you're in the checkout line try chatting with the weary cashier who is counting down the minutes until her shift ends so she can return home to her children. I've found that relaying a word of encouragement or even injecting humor changes the mood of the person on the receiving end. And selfishly it makes me feel happy as well.
In a culture where we are all caught up in busyness, shifting our mindset to extend kindness to others is a way to shine Christ's light.
This week someone remarked to me that being kind is so difficult because it goes against everything in our self-centered human nature. But Christ has called us to crucify the sinful nature and live by the Spirit. I pray that as followers of Jesus, our lives are noticed for kindness, compassion, love, and humilty.
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