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

Do the Write Kind Thing by Steph Beth Nickel

 

Photo Credit: ImaginationAlchemist on pixabay[dot]com

This month’s theme is “Small Acts of Kindness.”

As writers, we are well equipped to do so on a regular basis. I remember being handed a card at a church ladies’ event several years ago and being told, “Here, you write something. You always know what to say.”

Of course, in that moment, my mind went blank, but given some time to think on it, I would have come up with something.

There are countless ways we can use our words in uplifting, encouraging ways, in kind ways. Below are just a few of those ways:

1. Send an “I’m thinking of you” text to someone who comes to mind. This is especially encouraging if the other person is going through a difficult time. Sometimes, just a few words can make a big difference. (It’s also good when you don’t know exactly how to help or what to say.)

2.You can do the same using one of the many virtual options, such as Facebook’s Messenger. For an added level of connectedness, Messenger’s audio option or an app such as Voxer or WhatsApp means you can record your message to your friend or family member.

3. And for a more old school approach, why not drop a physical card in the mail—one with a brief personalized message? (If you prefer, you can send a free ecard from an online site such as such as dayspring.com)

4. Receiving brief notes and handwritten letters are a nice change from junk mail, pretty much the only thing that arrives in our mailboxes these days. Even bills come to our email inbox.

5. Do you remember the fun of sending (or receiving) an anonymous note? Whether signed or unsigned, it’s encouraging to receive a note of appreciation.

6. If you’re on social media, why not consider posting messages (and graphics) that will bring a smile to your readers’ face? While many people have left social media because of all the negativity that filled their feed, we who are still there can change that by creating positive, encouraging posts (and commenting on and/or responding to posts that bring a smile to our face).

A quick caveat…

Don’t get me wrong, sometimes kindness means challenging our readers. We must remember how God treats those He loves. He corrects us as needed, and that doesn’t always feel great at the time.

So, whether our message is “light and fluffy” or “challenging and heavy,” we can share the message in a kind way. Let’s seek to do so—and remember that it takes time to earn the right to present the latter type of message to our readers.

Small (and not-so-small) acts of kindness will go a long way to encouraging others and making them receptive to even challenging messages motivated by love.

What small act of kindness will you perform today?

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the current InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in 2025 or 2026. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

Help From Six Feet Away by Sandra Rafuse

I live with a profound hearing loss. It wasn't always this bad. Indeed, it took years to gradually get worse, but by the time I retired from teaching, and then from substitute teaching, I was ready to be out of the classroom. It was too noisy for me. I was finished. Of course, even after leaving the teaching profession, the challenges of living daily with a major hearing loss continued and I often thanked God for digital hearing aids and cell phones with blue tooth and live captions. I can't even imagine where I would be without them.

In March of 2020 Covid-19 restrictions came into effect and one of the restrictions was the compulsory wearing of face masks; everyone had to wear one everywhere they went. For anyone who needed to lip read they would cause a great deal of grief.

I was in Superstore. Covid was in full force and had been for several months. I was standing in the line-up at the till. I started to put my groceries on the track but I had forgotten that I was to wait to unload until the person ahead of me was finished. I felt embarrassed when I was told to put my groceries back into my cart. Being invisible at that moment would have been nice. I waited. Finally I was able to put my groceries on the track. I hurried to pack my bags. I didn't want to hold anyone up. It was time to pay. This was the moment I had been dreading since I first got in line.

There was the plexiglass between the cashier and me. Her mask was securely covering her face below her eyes to below her chin. My oh-so-crucial lifeline of support . . . being able to lipread . . . was gone. She was asking me something. I couldn't make out her words. She repeated herself. Nope. Not a chance. I couldn't understand a word she was saying. I told her I was hearing impaired and I asked if she could possibly pull down her mask so I could see her lips. No luck. She's wouldn't comply.

Suddenly I heard someone say, "She's asking you if you need any bags." Pause. "And she wants to know if you want the deal of the week: the Hershey dark chocolate almond bar." Pause. "And would you like to use any of your points to pay."

I have turned my head, and I am looking at a man who is standing the prerequisite six feet away from me. He is repeating the words of the cashier for me, and I can hear them clearly. He is not shouting. He is not angry. He is looking straight at me, and at that moment I love him. Yes, at that moment I love this person who is solving my very big problem by standing there and repeating the words I so badly need to hear. I thank him. Does he smile at me? I think he does. I know I smile at him for sure.

He remains in place while I finish answering the cashier's questions and pay my bill. As I leave the store, I am reminded of how God wants us to be kind to each other; how it pleases him when we do that. The warm feeling in my heart from this experience lasts a long time after I get home.

We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Ephesians 2:10

Sandra lives in Rockglen, Saskatchewan, with her husband Bob, a dog, and a very old cat. She is enjoying writing to share experiences from her life where God has been teaching her so many things.

Small Kindnesses Go Around The World by Bob Jones

I long to accomplish a great and noble task,

but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks,

as if they were great and noble. Mother Teresa

 

Tinned fruit. Toothpaste. Cooking oil. A can of soup and a few other items in a plastic bag. That doesn’t add up to much but when invaders have forced you from your home with nothing except the clothes on your back, it feels like hope. Even the plastic bag won’t go to waste.

I’ve seen them gather in Liviv, Dnipro, Kriviyi Rih, and Kupiansk, Ukraine. Moms with their littles. Their homes were destroyed, some are war widows, some have husbands fighting on the frontlines. They are grateful for the goodness of fellow Ukrainians.

A little kindness goes a long, long way.

And much of the kindness is supplied by generous Canadians and distributed by Ukrainian Christians. The funds to purchase the non-perishable items in the bags come from Canadians. Most of the humanitarian support near the frontlines is delivered by evangelical believers. I’ve travelled with pastors and volunteers to distribute bread and clothing to seniors within earshot of artillery fire. We pray with them, tell them that they are not forgotten, that God cares and invite them to trust Jesus as Saviour.

My pastor friends are not being melodramatic when they say that they live one day at a time. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. I have stayed in hotels and preached in meeting centres that no longer exist because they have been rocketed by the Russians.

This summer, I will be returning to eastern Ukraine with my wife for seven weeks, helping pastors and churches. People ask, “Is it safe?” Of course not, but it’s good. It’s the least we could do to offer kindness to people who are war weary after three plus years of devastation and terror. One project is ensuring over 2,000 children will have a week-long summer camp experience, filled with nutritious food, amazing crafts, inspiring Bible stories and joy. What a thrill to help them treasure every moment of every day and feel the love of Jesus.

 

Small things done with great love.

That’s how the world is changed.

 

Thank you for reading. I invite you to take a moment and pray for Ukraine.

Thank you.

Follow Bob at REVwords.com

Bumping Into God's Kindness by Brenda Leyland

"The kindness of God leads us to repentance."

Romans 2:4

It took me a long time to come to a place where I believed that God was kind. And that he would be kind to me. Many of the sermons I'd heard growing up seemed to focus on our sins, which led me to the mistaken belief that he was ever ready to punish us for our mistakes, and for some reason I imagined a big baseball bat at his side. It took me years to truly trust that He so loved the world. That Jesus had taken care of the sin issue for every situation. And that he is good, perfect, and kindhearted towards his created beings, including me.

I will never forget the day, one Sunday morning more than 40 years ago, when a guest speaker at church spoke about Peter's denial of Jesus before the crucifixion. And this speaker told us he imagined Jesus looking across the courtyard at Peter, his eyes filled with kindness rather than anger, rejection, or disgust. At the speaker's encouragement, I hid that image in my own heart and went home a changed person. Whenever I thought I'd blown it, I'd imagine Jesus looking at me the way He looked at Peter centuries earlier. And I'd whisper to myself, He looks at me with love and forgiveness in his eyes. Instead of feeling shame and his wrath, I felt his lovingkindness and forgiveness.

Fast forward to another day several years later, I was sitting under the ministry of another good preacher who was encouraging his listeners to quit beating themselves up when they missed the mark, and instead of running away from God, run to him. I took those words to heart and have been running to him ever since. Confirming once again that, no matter what I mess up, he will welcome me and be kind in his dealings with me. No baseball bats in sight. He often uses humour to show me a mirror of myself in various situations which somehow makes it easier to admit the error of my way. Bringing me to my senses without shame or guilt.

Then I bumped into the line in Romans 2:4 confirming what I'd been discovering about God's kindness. It's true what that verse says, how the kindness of God leads people to repentance. Imagining his displeasure or anger had never drawn me to himself, nor did it positively influence me to want to change my ways. When I thought he'd be mad or angry at me for failing, it made me want to hide, as Adam once hid. But it's his kindness, his forbearance and patience that drew me, and ever draws me towards himself.

I must tell you about the kindness I experienced when my best beloved Miss Kitty was seriously ill. She wasn't getting better, and I worried about her, asking the Lord to help me. There I was sitting at a concert listening to beautiful music, still very much aware of the sorrow I felt, when I had a picture come into my mind. I saw Jesus holding Kitty in the palms of his hands and tenderly looking at her. And I also had the sense that Kitty knew she was safe with him. I was so comforted in that moment. He had reached out to me with such kindness about my sweet kitty. I have never forgotten it. (Kitty left us the day William and Catherine wed.)

And now there is the beautiful line I have been living with ever since Lorrie Orr shared it in her post last week (click here if you missed it). It was a line she heard a pastor say: 'God is the kindest person you will ever meet.' I could have wept with joy in those words. Because from my own experience I know that to be true. My heart responds to his kindness; it expands with love for him because of it.

And my response to God's kindness is that I yearn to return the favour. To be like him and reach out to others in kindness. In our upside-down-tilted-sideways world that's fraught with hard, unkind things, more than ever we need this fruit of the spirit growing in our hearts. As it falls like ripe fruit into the lives of others, hopefully they, too, will experience the exquisite bumping into his lovingkindness.

There's a quote that goes around on social media, 'In a world where you can be anything, be kind.' I say, yes, yes, by his grace, that is what I choose.

Photo credit: (Top) Image by Chil Vera from Pixabay

Inspired by the beauty of God's world around her, Brenda loves shaping words into beautiful thoughts for good. Her sweet spot 'place' for writing happens to be on her blog It's A Beautiful Life. 

 

An Unexpected Kindness by Sandi Somers

It came as a surprise. Last fall I told my next-door neighbour that it was time to get a snow blower--it was getting too hard for me to shovel off my driveway after heavy snowstorms. Shortly afterwards, Don sent emails with links to sales items on both a snow blower and a heavy duty electric cord.

After I purchased both the snow blower and cord, he helped me assemble and test it. Then when we got a heavy snowstorm, he walked over to see how my blower was working and even volunteered to finish clearing my driveway. His eagerness to help must have given him an emotional boost. It gave me a lift too.

While I was drafting this post, (co-incidentally handwriting with my pen inscribed with “Be kind”), I discovered a relevant article on small acts of kindness. In her book, Conversations with Kindness, British author Bernadette Russell tells how her life changed when at the post office she gave money to a young man who couldn't pay for a stamp. “It made me think about how maybe some people are more likely to receive kindness than others and how one way to respond to unkindness is with kindness.” This began a daily practice for a year--leaving a bookmark with a kind message inside a book in a thrift shop, showing tourists the way to a train platform, helping an elderly man struggle with his bags.

She was surprised to discover how much she noticed other people being kind. There was another side-effect, too: “I started becoming aware of how often I received kindness – which was often.” She believes that people who are treated with love, kindness, forgiveness and compassion can change. “I think [kindness] has truly radical, world-changing and life-changing power,” she said.

Her story points out that we often feel uplifted when we do small things for other people. Why is that?

Research has shown that our brain releases dopamine, giving us a warm feeling of euphoria when we do something kind for others. But the good feeling doesn't last. To be most effective, acts of kindness need to be repeated frequently, as Bernadette Russell discovered.

~ ~

Perhaps this is why as writers, we sometimes feel euphoric when we write what is inspiring.

When we know that our words will go out to others.

When we know that our words ring true for the benefit of others.

Even when we don’t know where our words will land, or with whom.

As I write this post, I’ve been greatly challenged to add more small acts of kindness to my life. It’s also caused me to think of more ways to incorporate kindnesses into my writing.

I’m reminded of what the apostle Paul says in Ephesians 2:10: "We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works." Showing kindness is part of those good works. It reflects the reality of how Christ is in us.

Let's make kindness a habit, both in our daily lives and in our writing. If we do, we’ll not only get that endorphin lift, but we’ll also be doing a small part of what God intends for us.

Sandi Somers has been writing for the InScribe Writers Online blog for over eleven years. The wide range of topics has been a boon to her writing. She lives in Calgary, Alberta.






Donna Ferguson, "Rewind and be Kind: What happens if you do one act of kindness every day?" Accessed March 30, 2025.

Wouldn't It Be Nice? by Brenda J Wood

We are in the recovery process after the brutal ice storm that hit Southern Ontario. No power exists. Trees are decimated. Cars are growing branches out of their roofs. Some houses have serious damage from falling limbs.

But never fear.

Help arrives with one neighbour checking around my property to say the house itself had no damage. And then stopped in to check on me. Those of us with fireplaces invited neighbours less fortunate to share our warmth. One person found a distant restaurant open and brought us all a coffee. We opened our defrosting fridges to share any cooked food. We found people cheered one another up. One gal travelled the treacherous road roads to bring me more yarn for the afghans I make for the hospital's chemotherapy patients.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all these things actually happened? Wouldn’t it be nice? Some of them did but some of them did not. Why? Because most of us don’t bother with the little things. We think they don’t matter. And yet what a difference each tiny step makes toward kindness.

I leave you to guess which small steps happened. This article is past due. Will I be able to send it on time? Only the power company knows for sure. Wouldn’t it be nice if they told us? Yes, a week later some people still have no power and no refrigeration and no safety. It’s only the little things. A little thing to do. And there’s no trouble. And the little things smooth people’s road the most.

_____________

PS. We live in limbo here still . . . We are all jaded and I expect depressed. And today they call for more freezing rain. Pray for us please, not just me but people who are in worse shape than me, we are in a disaster area.

Brenda J Wood has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense.

Small Kindnesses by Lorrie Orr

 

"I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." J. R. R. Tolkien

This month's prompt: What small deeds of kindness have you witnessed or experienced? How did they make you feel? In a world that is often unkind, small kindnesses can mean much. Write about a kindness you have been shown or have shown to someone else.

In 2009 my husband unexpectedly lost his job in a rather brutal fashion. After 10 months he found another, and we were thankful, though still hurting. His new job meant moving a couple of hours away. We struggled to fit into our new, smaller community. Finding a church home was difficult. I began attending a woman's Bible study, and we tried to find a small group knowing that we ourselves needed to reach out if we were to find community. People were neither welcoming nor kind. Our hearts ached for what we had lost and were now unable to find. As the months wore on, and I ached for warmth and connection, walls of cold stone piled around my heart.  

One evening, while strolling through our neighbourhood, we met a realtor setting up an open house. In chatting, we discovered that he had attended the same church for awhile and found the same lack of connection. He invited us to another church, one that we would have never before considered. 

That Sunday the pastor opened her sermon with "God is the kindest person you will ever meet." Tears rained down my face at her words. They were balm to my hard and wounded heart. I felt the cold stone of my heart softening. The simple truth of God's kindness was shown in fellow congregants inviting us to share coffee or a meal. Slowly the ice around my heart melted as I considered God's kindness demonstrated by this small group of kind people. 

I am thankful that God shows kindness to me despite my many faults. In Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) we are urged to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." God's kindness is shown in myriad ways. Forgiveness certainly. When I hurt he lavishes his love on me and calls me his child; when I doubt he walks with me through the questions, never pausing his kindness. When I mourn he comforts me with his presence. Because of God's kindness to me, I am filled with his Spirit that helps me to show kindness to others. 

Have you ever noticed how being kind to someone who might be belligerent or angry can catch them off guard? Showing kindness rather than retaliation often diffuses a situation, enabling a reasonable discourse to take place. Kindness softens and tenders hard hearts. 

Kindness is not a small thing. Being kind can require much grace and God's strength. Proverbs 21:21 tells us that being kind benefits not only the receiver, but the giver: "Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor." Kindness stands out as a shining beacon in a world that is judgmental, polarizing, and harsh. 

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island where Spring has suddenly sprung, displaying the kindness and goodness of God in nature.