I have been giving thought to kindness lately. Initially, I considered that being nice is the same as being kind, but upon further reflection, I believe their meanings differ. In its simplest form, nice is what you do, and kind is who you are.

I spent time meditating on Ephesians 4:32 where Paul says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Kindness sounded easy until I saw the word “forgiving” in the verse. That means kindness is required even when I’ve been wronged! Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit as seen in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

I only have the capacity to show kindness because, as a follower of Christ, the Spirit of God lives in me.

Kindness gives me insight and courage to have true compassion for others, even those who hate me. It releases my ego and opens my heart to reconciliation. It’s no longer about me, rather it’s about showing the love of Christ through my actions and reactions.

Kindness is powerful.

The past decade has been a challenging one for me. However, I have experienced the goodness of God through the kindness of his people. When finances were tight, anonymous donations of cash and gift cards appeared. Health issues added to the difficulty, and I was no longer able to live alone. Gracious friends, asking nothing in return, opened their homes and their hearts to me as I regained strength and stability. As the stress and frustration of my life overwhelmed me, I was patiently loved by people who simply listened and prayed. This was kindness in action. These acts of kindness significantly impacted my life. I will never forget the compassion shown to me.

I am determined to do the same for others. My goal is for kindness to be an intentional practice, a way of life, a representation of who I am in Christ as the Spirit of God continues his work in me. May compassion be my heart as I see others in need and may kindness give me courage and boldness to forgive and heal relationships for the sake of God’s kingdom.