Sowing Seeds of Kindness
Growing Your Spiritual Garden Part V
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22
What is your definition of kindness?
Kindness is an explosive word. It is a word that gives birth to many ideas, images, and actions. Kindness has evolved from a word in a dictionary into a life philosophy embraced by many people.
The philosophy of kindness is based on the Golden Rule. We have all been exposed to the Golden Rule or the act of doing for others as you would have them do for you. The Golden Rule is a spiritual mandate that was expounded upon in Christ's ministry on earth. In the New Testament, we are given numerous examples of kindness.
The example of the Good Samaritan brings to mind the core principle of what it means to be kind. In this story, a man stops to help another man that has been severely beaten by robbers. However, the story of the Good Samaritan is more than a lesson in mercy because the Samaritan is a socioreligious outcast. The man that he stops to care for is a man that the Samaritan would normally not associate with on a daily basis. He could have easily walked by the injured man, as did other passers by, but he did not. The Samaritan did the right thing.
In this parable, Jesus defines kindness as love for neighbor, but kindness can be defined in terms of generosity, compassion, love, charity, assistance, counseling, and many other words. When we stop to think about kindness, the concept of what we envision is often dictated by the events of the moment. The ways that we display kindness are affected by the present. We find ourselves rooted deeply in the plan of an almighty Creator. If we have the Spirit of God inside of us, we are destined to be instruments of kindness.
The "Random Acts of Kindness" movement is an example of how we can learn to incorporate kindness into our daily journeys. It is a principle that asks each person to complete at least one random act of kindness each day. The act could be for someone you know or for a total stranger. Listed below are suggestions for random acts of kindness. I encourage you to pick one act and implement it into your life. You will be surprised by the results that you receive when you "sow seeds of kindness."
10 Random Acts of Kindness to Practice Daily
1. Smile at everyone you meet.
2. Thank someone for the job they do for you regardless of how big or how small of a job it is.
3. Pick up a discarded piece of trash and put it in its proper place.
4. Pay for a stranger's groceries.
5. Be a sympathetic ear for a friend who is feeling down.
6. Cut your neighbor's grass.
7. Make time to visit with an elderly neighbor. Better yet, bring a meal to share during your visit.
8. Hold the door open for a stranger.
9. Let someone into traffic even if you are in a hurry.
10. If you see someone in need, help them.
