Kindness on Hands and Knees ~ Valerie Ronald

                                                                                          image by Pixabay

From the sanctuary of my bedroom I listened to the sounds of industrious activity beyond its walls. A lawn mower and weed trimmer ran noisily below the window, while a vacuum cleaner droned up and down the hallway, manned by dear friends of mine. If I were to go look, I would see more friends scrubbing my kitchen floor, washing my windows and cleaning my fridge.

I didn’t ask them to come and ready my house so it could be sold. These friends from my church bible study group had called a few days before telling me a cleaning bee would show up here on Saturday. All I had to do was unlock the door and they would do the rest.

I was too weak to protest. I wept in gratitude and relief, because I was unable do this overwhelming task myself, and they knew why. During the past year, a difficult divorce and a cancer diagnosis crushed me to the ground. Abandoned by an adulterous and neglectful husband, I had to sell our home so my children and I could survive. These dear people I gathered with weekly, knowing what challenges I faced, prayed for me and wept with me. Now they were here putting their faith in action, walking out the exhortation of Galatians 6:10 (NIV) ~ "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."  

Pearl, a warm and motherly older woman, ushered me into my bedroom, settling me comfortably under the quilt with a basket of books, a cup of tea and a plate of fresh-baked treats. The after-effects of ongoing chemotherapy treatments made me weak and tired. Her kind care filled my bedroom with peace, where I rested while a hive of activity whirred outside its walls.  

When I got up a few hours later, I could hardly believe the transformation of my untended house and yard. Windows and floors gleamed, newly cut grass and brightly planted flowerbeds perked up the yard, and every item on the list of needed repairs was completed. I hugged each one of my friends because I had no words to thank them for their kindness. Joy and love shone from their eyes as they hugged me back.  

I will never forget what kindness these brothers and sisters in Christ showed me on that day. It wasn’t their only ministry to our family, as they blessed us with gifts of money and food too. Now when I am made aware of others in need, I remember their smiling faces and work-stained hands. I recall them singing praise songs as they worked, and I treasure their sacrifice of time and effort, helping me in such practical ways when I desperately needed it. Because of the example shown by my faith family, I find joy and blessing in helping others as I was helped. They embodied kindness on hands and knees.

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."

- Proverbs 11:25

Valerie Ronald writes from an old roll top desk in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, with her tortoiseshell cat for a muse. A graduate of Langara College School of Journalism, she writes devotionals, fiction and inspirational prose. Her purpose in writing is to encourage others to grow in their spiritual walk.
 

 

Kindness in the Struggle by Alan Anderson

 

"And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so." Genesis 1:24 (ESV)

Oh, my word, I love the theme for this month! Our InScribe blog writers have exposed themselves once again as writers with a passionate call. Please accept the following as my contribution to our theme of kindness. I pray this post is worthy of your time, dear ones.

Kindness to God’s Little Creatures

I love spring. I’m not a big fan of winter, but spring and I are buddies. Heat from sun rays causes grass to grow, and the earth warms up to prepare for gardening and growth. With a more regular appearance of the sun, wasps, bees, birds and butterflies are among the creatures who add colour to nature.

A couple of years ago, when my wife and I arrived home from church, I found a sad sight. On our porch steps, I discovered the body of a little bird. From the looks of it, he must have flown into one of our porch windows and died. I imagined he began his day flying around and seeking something to eat. Now his end came, and his little broken body lay still. I carried him to my backyard, dug a hole in the lawn, and covered him with dirt. I performed an act of kindness to one of God’s precious little creatures.

Not too long ago, while in my workshop at home, I noticed a wasp crawling on the floor. He walked with a noticeable limp, with broken wings and struggled. I opened the workshop door to see if he might fly away, but his struggle continued. He couldn’t fly. My mind pondered, what does a wasp do if he can’t fly?

I watched the little creature struggle to fly, yet he failed again and again. Every effort for him to move showed his crippled attempt. I grabbed hold of one of my gardening trowels and allowed the wasp to climb on to the trowel. Once he did this, I took him outside and with all gentleness I placed him on to the grass. Like the little bird, the wasp’s life on this earth would be brief. I knew I couldn’t save this determined, beautiful example of God’s creation. I watched him for a few minutes, hoping he regained his ability to fly like his wasp brethren, but to no avail.

These little creatures, created by God, served a purpose. They reminded me of the importance of showing kindness only God may notice.

Through acts of kindness to God’s creatures, we might ponder how this relates to writers. What came to my mind is how some of our writing projects might go the way of the dead bird and the crippled wasp.

A Writer’s Struggle

How do you, dear writers, persevere with writing projects you struggle with? I know I am assuming you struggle with your writing from time to time. Please bear with me. How long do you nurture your writing pieces before you lay them aside when it seems they don’t come together?

What about those crumpled pages lying in a garbage can beside your desk or the stories where you hit the delete key? Those stories, poems, scripts, or books that started well, only to have them smashed against the wall of your mind. At what point did you reach where you decided the struggle was going nowhere?

I know this struggle. I am living the struggle right now. With a measure of crippled effort and stumbling, I laid aside a project I love. The time isn’t right. Like the wasp, this project has had its struggles. Unlike the bird, this project is not dead. I hope to breathe life back into it someday. For now, it rests. This is kindness to your words.

How about you, my friends? Are you in a struggle? Where are you in the struggle? Are your words tired? Perhaps you have laid your writing effort for now. Dear ones, you are not alone in your struggle. May God, the Lord who loves you, send kindness to you. May we be part of the kindness of God to each other.

Alan lives in a small village called Deroche, British Columbia, with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. He enjoys walking on the dike near his home with trees all around and where he finds inspiration to write. He occasionally writes articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. Alan’s website and blog is https://scarredjoy.ca.

The Kindness of a Stranger by Carol Harrison

 

My husband, youngest daughter, and I sat at a table in a crowded restaurant. It had been a long day of driving on our homeward journey. I must admit to being tired and wanting a quiet meal but the noise level started giving me a headache, especially from the young man at the table across the aisle from us. No matter what his quieter, older companion suggested or talked about the younger fellow had lots to say in a very loud voice complete with f-bombs dropping every few words. That bothered me worse than even the loud volume.

I would have loved to change tables but none were available. I began hoping the two men would forgo dessert or more coffee and leave quickly. Finally, just after our food arrived, the two men got up to leave. The younger headed out while the older man stopped to apologize for his companion’s language and volume, saying how appalled he had been with the behaviour of his guest. This small act of kindness took me by surprise and assuaged my frustration. I appreciated his gesture.

The rest of our meal proved to be peaceful and uneventful. We didn’t linger too long since all of us were eager to get to our hotel room for some much-needed rest. When we asked for our bill, the waitress told us it had already been looked after. We were confused and incredulous. Who would pay for a stranger’s meals? My husband asked for some clarification. Nothing like this had ever happened to us before.

The older gentleman from the table across the way who had apologized on his way out had also paid for our meals with instructions for the waitress not to mention it until he’d left. He wanted no thanks.

This act of kindness from a stranger has stuck with me all these years. If he could apologize and pay for our meals what’s my excuse for not showing kindness to someone else. Ephesians 4:32 commands us “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.”

This stranger’s act of kindness overwhelmed me especially when I’d been grumpy inside about having to be subjected to such language and loudness when I desired a quiet meal with my husband and daughter. Kindness really does affect the recipient but I think it also affects the giver.

 

Carol Harrison lives and writes from Saskatoon, SK. She loves to tell stories about real life events that have occurred as well as family history. 

The Fruit of Kindness by Sharon Heagy

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." Galatians 5:22-23

Though I hate to admit it, there are many days when I am not kind. When I let my impatience and irritation get the best of me. Those days I am snarky and snappy and crabby. Often I don't even know why I am reacting like an unruly child, or overreacting to, well, everything. There is just a sense of restlessness, an air of prickliness, a profound crankiness. Everywhere I go I feel like I am accompanied by the music played in Bugs Bunny when the bad guy appears. Bomp bomp, bomp bomp, bomp bomp, bomp bomp. These are also days when remorse rears its head and I weep for the people who have been on the receiving end of my grumpy attitude as I overthink how my obnoxious behaviour has affected them. Believing they will never forgive me when in reality most of them weren't even bothered and carried on with their day as if nothing ever happened. "Good grief, Charlie Brown!"

Then there are other days, when I look beyond myself and am able to extend some sort of small kindness to others or to receive a blessing from a gentle person. Most of us find the latter harder than the giving but the need to be gracious is imperative for both. In our community, meals and flowers are exchanged when someone has passed away or is ill. If there is work to be done, people come together in a work bee to lift one more burden from the back of one who is suffering. Fundraisers abound to help those with financial stresses in times of need. Yet the compassionate acts that are unexpected, those that come or go at just the right time, are tender gifts best loved. And if they are done in anonymity, all the better. They get our warm fuzzies going and produce a bursting grateful heart overflowing with love.

But is that what kindness is all about? Is it just about being good to one another? A feel-good action and then we are on our merry way? The questions bounced around my brain and I sought to find the answer.

In the verse from Galatians 5:22-23, kindness is mentioned as one fruit the Spirit provides. The Greek word for kind is chrestotes (khary-stot-ace). The meaning of the word does confirm the importance of benevolent actions to another but its meaning holds so much more. It is a way of being. There is a purity about it that also includes having a tender and gentle disposition. It is a matter of character and attitude even to people we'd rather not deal with or with those who would rather not deal with us. How easy it is to be kind and giving to those who love us, yet more difficult to allow others to give us a slap on the cheek and turn and offer the other. (Matthew 5:39) Kindness is not an inherent natural quality. It is a gift from God given by the power of His Spirit.

The greatest kindness I have ever received is truth given in love. When my steps become wayward and confusion bars the path, there are those who love me enough and will, in His loving kindness, help to clear the way and set me straight on the road home once more. It doesn't always feel like kindness in the beginning, but I am grateful for those who persevere and for a God who confirms the truth. It isn't always easy to share the truth either but it's priceless to those who will receive it. A parcel to unpack along one's faith journey.

The ultimate kindness for me was to be introduced to Jesus. To learn of His grace, mercy and forgiveness. To learn of the price He paid for my debt. He loves even me, just the way I am. He loves even you, just the way you are. On Sunday, we will celebrate the resurrection power that saved all humanity if only we would ask and believe. Perhaps an opportunity will be opened for us to share that ultimate kindness with a fellow faith traveller, to share the Saviour Himself. 

May each of us be transformed by God into a person of continual kindness and may your Easter season be blessed.

Sharon Heagy writes from the little town of Rockglen, which is nestled in the hills of southern Saskatchewan. Her kids have flown the coop so she and her husband have retired to town. She writes to inspire and give hope with a chuckle or two along the way.

"Good grief, Charlie Brown!" - Charles M. Schultz