My word for May 8th is KINDNESS
Several years ago I was in target buying patio lights to
decorate for prom. While in the
checkout line I started visiting with the lady in front of me. She was checking out her items one at a
time and checking the total as they scanned. She had the same patio lights in her basket as I did. They were the last item for her to scan. After the checker scanned the lights
she responded, “no put those back I don’t need them”. The lord spoke to me and said, “buy those lights for that
lady”. While I began to check out
I had the checker scan the lights first.
After she scanned them I told her I would be right back. I grabbed the lights and walked swiftly
to the parking lot finding the woman.
I handed her the lights and said, “I really feel you need these I hope
you enjoy them”. I ran back in,
finished checking out and headed out to my car only to find the woman waiting
in the parking lot. She came over
to me in tears. She said this to
me, “You have just brightened my day.
I started chemotherapy today for my cancer and I don’t feel well. I decided to buy those lights to hang
on my back patio to cheer me up while I have this round of med’s. I realized I couldn’t afford them. Thank you, you don’t know how you have
helped me”. By the end of the
conversation we were both in tears.
I have seen many statuses on Facebook on doing random acts
of kindness for others. When doing
good deeds one doesn’t only help the person that receives the gift, but it is
the giver that gets the best reward.
I love doing things like this, especially when people don’t know who did
them. I have done things before
and then been in a group where people are wondering “who did that for me”. There are two different types of “acts
of kindness”. Random acts are
those that we just happen upon, it is the Lord speaking in our ears “do this
now.” Intentional acts are
planned. God wants us to put our
faith into action. To put our
faith to work we need to be involved in both types of kindness, those planned
and those not planned. Both show
kindness and caring for others, loving one another. The consequences of random acts of kindness are infinite they
give a ripple effect. These acts
sow the seeds for others to perform acts of kindness. When a person is on the receiving end of kindness they too
will pass on to others. If
everyone would do a good deed once a week and then the receiver pass on, and
then pass on and pass on, soon everyone would be participating in the fruits of
the spirit.
Kindness is an active expression of love toward God and
man. In today’s world people have
gotten away from “kindness”. When
we are walking with the Lord we have no other choice but to do random acts of
kindness. Take time this week to
do something nice for someone, make someone smile. It usually costs nothing; it
just takes time and energy. Just as I was led to the lady at Target,
the Lord will lead you to the person that needs you. Make good things happen, the result is worth it.
Dear Lord lead us to people that need us, those that we can
give a blessing to. Give us the
energy to be part of random acts of kindness daily. We know that you want us to love thy neighbor as ourselves,
doing for them, as we would want them to do for us. When we walk with you, you enable us to give the gift of
kindness to others. During this
journey of 2012 remind us everyday to make others smile.
Colossians 3:12
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and
beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Titus 3:3-5
Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient.
We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were
full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—“When God our Savior
revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous
things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving
us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit."
http://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/PERSONAL/k/259/The-Fruit-of-Spirit-Kindness.htm,
Church of the Great God, The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness, John W. Ritenbaugh,
July 1998
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