Mark Twain said that Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. I think this is very true! Except I think that us, the seeing and hearing are the most hard hearing and blindest when it comes to kindness. Isn't kindness what we expect from other people? See, the overall problem with kindness is that we believe that we, because we are children of God, automatically qualify in having a heart of kindness. So we sit arms crossed waiting for our fellow brothers and sisters to show kindness to the world. After all, we are expecting it as part of their fruit bouquet right?
Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
We read and memorize this verse of by heart. Such beautiful words strung together... Every spiritual tree takes time to grow the perfect fruit. It doesn't happen overnight. It's a growth process with its own pains, failures and mistakes. It takes pruning and patience to achieve beautiful fruit. These past few weeks God took me on a journey of Kindness which I would like to share:
One morning early I parked at the shop of a petrol garage. Hastily I ran in to buy what I needed and as I returned to my vehicle, a petrol attendant was washing my windscreen. At first I was a bit baffled because I was parked in front of the shop... Why would he do this? As I walked closer he gave me the brightest smile and said: "Now you can see where you are going. God bless you ma'am" Stunned I thanked him and got in my vehicle to go about the rest of my day. I sat behind the steer for a while, my hand on the key in the ignition and asked God why would he do this? God said: It's an act of kindness.
A week or so later I was on my way to collect stock for the company and I stopped at a traffic light. As the light turned green I was about to put my vehicle in gear to go when a young man just walked over the road. I waited. He headed to the other side where an old lady stood and begged. Gently he placed his arm on her shoulder and whispered something in her ear. I could see the shock on her face and suddenly she began to cry. He gave her something, turned and walked back to his own vehicle, like nothing happened. By this time I couldn't care about the traffic honking behind me, because what God was showing me was more valuable than their rush. She collected her rugged old bag and still in amazement walked towards the shop on the corner. I could see the tears running from her beautiful blue eyes down her weathered cheeks. She stared at her hand, looked back over her shoulder and then back to her hand. I could see a roll of cash notes. I said to God: That was amazing to see. He replied: It's an act of kindness.
The dogs in the street was barking without control this morning. I put on my robe and headed to the door to see what the ruckus was about. As I opened the door and peeked out, I saw my neighbor determinedly walking down the drive way towards the gate. She had a duvet and some towels in her arms. Puzzled I wandered what she was about to do when I saw she stood on tip toe and handed the linen over the gate to some homeless people who were rummaging through the dustbins. God said: It's an act of kindness.
As I was putting petrol in my vehicle, a well dressed man came up to the window and asked for change. He was short on his taxi fair and needed to get to work. I reached in my bag to look what I have and God said: Give him R50. I did. The disbelieve on his face shocked me a little and then he started thanking me. Now he can get home that night too. God said: You just did an act of kindness.
We become so self-centered in our own lives that we become deaf and blind to kindness. We don't see it anymore because we are looking in a different direction than where God wants us to look. Kindness to me became that unselfish act of human kindness where one soul cares for another without expecting anything back. Not even a thank you.
The next 30 days of our devotional series are about Random acts of Kindness. Open your heart and let kindness flow. After all, the word says: Colossians 3:12 "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;"
Shalom Shalom
Iriza
We read and memorize this verse of by heart. Such beautiful words strung together... Every spiritual tree takes time to grow the perfect fruit. It doesn't happen overnight. It's a growth process with its own pains, failures and mistakes. It takes pruning and patience to achieve beautiful fruit. These past few weeks God took me on a journey of Kindness which I would like to share:
One morning early I parked at the shop of a petrol garage. Hastily I ran in to buy what I needed and as I returned to my vehicle, a petrol attendant was washing my windscreen. At first I was a bit baffled because I was parked in front of the shop... Why would he do this? As I walked closer he gave me the brightest smile and said: "Now you can see where you are going. God bless you ma'am" Stunned I thanked him and got in my vehicle to go about the rest of my day. I sat behind the steer for a while, my hand on the key in the ignition and asked God why would he do this? God said: It's an act of kindness.
A week or so later I was on my way to collect stock for the company and I stopped at a traffic light. As the light turned green I was about to put my vehicle in gear to go when a young man just walked over the road. I waited. He headed to the other side where an old lady stood and begged. Gently he placed his arm on her shoulder and whispered something in her ear. I could see the shock on her face and suddenly she began to cry. He gave her something, turned and walked back to his own vehicle, like nothing happened. By this time I couldn't care about the traffic honking behind me, because what God was showing me was more valuable than their rush. She collected her rugged old bag and still in amazement walked towards the shop on the corner. I could see the tears running from her beautiful blue eyes down her weathered cheeks. She stared at her hand, looked back over her shoulder and then back to her hand. I could see a roll of cash notes. I said to God: That was amazing to see. He replied: It's an act of kindness.
The dogs in the street was barking without control this morning. I put on my robe and headed to the door to see what the ruckus was about. As I opened the door and peeked out, I saw my neighbor determinedly walking down the drive way towards the gate. She had a duvet and some towels in her arms. Puzzled I wandered what she was about to do when I saw she stood on tip toe and handed the linen over the gate to some homeless people who were rummaging through the dustbins. God said: It's an act of kindness.
As I was putting petrol in my vehicle, a well dressed man came up to the window and asked for change. He was short on his taxi fair and needed to get to work. I reached in my bag to look what I have and God said: Give him R50. I did. The disbelieve on his face shocked me a little and then he started thanking me. Now he can get home that night too. God said: You just did an act of kindness.
We become so self-centered in our own lives that we become deaf and blind to kindness. We don't see it anymore because we are looking in a different direction than where God wants us to look. Kindness to me became that unselfish act of human kindness where one soul cares for another without expecting anything back. Not even a thank you.
The next 30 days of our devotional series are about Random acts of Kindness. Open your heart and let kindness flow. After all, the word says: Colossians 3:12 "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;"
Shalom Shalom
Iriza