By Jenniffer Mann
On the 13 November 2020, the world celebrated ‘World Kindness Day’ An annual event. ‘On this day, participants attempt to make the world a better place by celebrating and promoting good deeds and pledging acts of kindness, either as individuals or as organisations.’ The online dictionary I viewed, describes kindness as being the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
I distinctly remember an ex colleague saying, “Jenniffer, you are too kind and your kindness to will be mistaken as a weakness” the implication being that I would be perceived as naive and lacking strength of character. I think to some degree my ex colleague was correct but his outlook was that I should concentrate more on myself and less on the needs of others.
I have often asked myself the question, “why does humanity struggle so much with the concept of kindness?” Kindness is not a trait we are naturally born with but the effects are far reaching and can transcend cultural barriers.
Mark Twain put it beautifully when he said, “Kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” But where does that leave us when when according to Charles Darwin, getting on in life is about the survival of the fittest? Which basically promulgates, selfishness as the key to success.
Interestingly, the worlds biggest proponent of evolution, Charles Darwin, was a firm believer that mankind is not biologically competitive and self-interested. Darwin believed that we are a profoundly social and caring species. He argued that sympathy and caring for others is instinctual (DiSalvo, Scientific American, 2017).
Although kindness is a pervasive theme in the bible, it is not a trait that our inherently sinful nature subscribes to. Have you ever noticed how toddlers instinctively want to grab all the toys for themselves when playing with others. We have to teach them the importance of sharing and giving.
In Philippians 2:21 we read, “For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
It’s only when we experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and come into contact with the Holy Spirit that we take on the specific characteristics of Jesus. These are known as Fruits of the spirit. These do not just appear overnight, in the same way grapes do not just appear on the vine. It requires cultivation, attention and the right nutrients in this case, the bible and prayer to see the characteristic take root.
So what are the characteristics of Jesus? In Galatians 5:22-23 we read these are: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-Control. Although we have focused on kindness, it is only when these traits working in tandem with each other, that we Jesus reflected in our personalities, in our relationships and in our interactions with our people.
Kindness isn’t about a focus on a particular day, it’s an every day focus! Kindness requires the right cultivation to take deep root and be clearly manifested in character so that it goes beyond being an ‘act’ of kindness. All of us can act kindly towards another but for it to become something we do without conscious thought, it needs to be rooted firmly in our hearts. True kindness, looks beyond our own personal circumstance. It does not hinge on our mood or our arrangements for the day, or fluctuate depending on how we are treated. As a characteristic of Jesus, true kindness says, I will treat you, as I wish to be treated, which is taken from the New Testament book of Luke 6:31 “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”
Perhaps the most well known act of kindness in the bible, can be seen in the story of The Good Samaritan, where Jesus teaches on the importance of loving our neighbours. One day a man was walking along the road and was suddenly robbed, beaten and left hurting. One man passed by and ignored him, and then another. Later, a Samaritan man came upon him and stopped to help. The Bible says the Samaritan man had compassion on him.
After telling this story, Jesus asked, “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” The answer, of course, is the Good Samaritan. Jesus told this story as an example of what it means to be kind to others, even those we don’t know who need our help. The Samaritan had compassion for the hurting man and maybe it was because he understood that he could have been him who had been robbed. His compassion kicked into action perhaps at the thought that he was actually safe. Whatever his motivation, the Samaritan man chose God’s way of kindness along the road that day.
We live in an age where people are more like likely to pull out their phone and record someone being hurt and post it on social media, then to offer physical assistance. Kindness comes in many forms and as it was just announced that we are to enter into yet another lockdown in the new Tier 4 system. I challenge us all to consider those around us in need. The person near you in need of kindness need not be lying in the road. They can be sitting at home on their sofa, feeling the dark cloud of loneliness. It may your relative you have not spoken to in years, waiting to hear from you.
Maybe someone has mentioned the financial burden of paying a Bill they have no money for. If you have been blessed with a Christmas bonus, or even if you can sacrifice that new item you planned to buy, (that you probably don’t need) imagine how your kindness could impact someone’s life today. What if we were to leave a food parcel on the door of our elderly neighbour or just phone someone to say “You have been on my mind, how are you?”. There are so many ways we can make a tangible difference in the lives of each other, if only we allow Jesus to be our inspiration.
This new lock down will be tough because it comes at a time of year, when suicide rates are typically the highest. I urge you to think of how you can be the difference, someone is desperately seeking.
Let’s Pray
Dear Jesus, Please help me to truly understand your character, that in so doing I can show kindness to others and project the love you have for me. Please direct me to those in need. Amen
