Kindness. | A Weekly Word 2022

Kindness makes use of our time, energy and gifts for the betterment of our own lives and the lives of others. It is built upon thoughtfulness, generosity and consideration. But unlike merely being nice, one cannot truly be kind without a conviction to care that comes from within. Kindness challenges us to do what’s right, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Kindness is deeper.

While they are sometimes used interchangeably, niceness and kindness are distinctly unique. Being nice is being polite and treating others well – think of a store clerk or customer service representative. It is often pleasant, light and easy. Showing up in kindness, on the other hand, can sometimes be a source of tension. True kindness will call us to honor God in the face of opposition, to prioritize our self-care, or to stand up for others even when it's unpopular. Kindness requires a steadfast commitment to truth and love.

Kindness is rooted in love.

Kindness is not just a random act, as it is often described in today’s culture. The Bible teaches that kindness is a practice, a way of life that’s built upon virtues like compassion and forgiveness. Compassion, the concern for one’s sufferings are misfortunes, comes from a Latin root word that means to suffer with. While forgiveness, the act or process of no longer ​​feeling resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake, comes from the root words to give. The sacrificial nature of these attributes tell us that kindness takes effort, and is the fruit of our labor.

Kindness is fruit.

In God’s unmerited kindness toward us, we have been gifted with His Holy Spirit enabling us to bear fruit. Galatians 5:22 describes the fruits of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits are the by-products of our commitment to our convictions. This tells us kindness demonstrates the result of a divine change that is at work in our hearts and should be evident in our lives.

Passage

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

Prayer

God, thank you for your Holy Spirit. Thank you for the fruits of the Spirit that we bear as a by-product of our good works. Thank you for your unmerited and unconditional kindness toward me and for creating me in your image. Help me to be more like you. Help me to be kind, compassionate and forgiving toward myself and others. Allow me to practice true and genuine kindness daily. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Practice

This week, I will show myself kindness by forgiving myself for something that I have been self-critical of. I will commit to extending that kindness to others through authentic compassion.