Teaching Kids KindnessSample

  Day 5: Kindness in Our Country 

Scrolling through my social media feed, I saw posts about devastating storms that had come through Texas. As I read about homes and communities that had been swallowed by water, I began to wonder if there was something I could do to support them. It didn’t take long to find people who were already setting up ways to help. A teacher’s plea caught my attention as she spoke of connecting Texas teachers whose classrooms had been destroyed with families and faith communities around the country who were determined to help. 

After sending a quick message to our church, I sent an e-mail to the organizer, asking to be paired with a teacher and classroom. The response came quickly, and from there began a beautiful exchange between my community and a woman we did not know and had never met. But she was in desperate need of supplies and encouragement, and we could supply those.

We quickly compiled a list of her needs and then bundled up gift cards and supplies as our kids wrote notes offering love and prayers. We sent it all off and waited. Several days later the teacher emailed us a huge thank you for all the supplies—but even more important—was the sense of hope that came with it. She said her students couldn’t believe that a group of people as far away as Minnesota were thinking of them and cared enough to actually meet their needs. 

It was a reminder to us that although doing kind acts is a good thing, the intention behind them—the peace or hope or love that they convey—often means more than the act itself. No act is too small when we do it with love. 

Conversation Starter: What needs do you currently see in your country? Is there something you could do, even something small, to meet those needs? What person or group of people could use some encouragement? Why is it important to show love and kindness to strangers?

Getting Started: Choose an issue that is happening in your country that your family could pray for and support in some way. Has there been a natural disaster? Would you like to address homelessness or hunger? Could you bless our military by sending care packages? Be on the lookout for ways that you can support people who are facing challenges.

Verses:

John 13:34 

Galatians 6:2 

1 John 3:17-18