21 Days of Prayer & FastingSample

Kindness and Gentleness

One day, my husband was out on his regular walk through our neighborhood, and as he walked, he began to pray. His prayer was simple but sincere: “God, connect me with the right people, use me, and help me to be a blessing to those you bring across my path.” As he prayed, he looked up and noticed an older woman sitting in her van in her driveway. It seemed like she was struggling with something, so he approached her and asked, “Ma’am, can I help you with something?”

The woman replied, “Yes, I dropped my sunglasses, and I can’t bend over to pick them up.” My husband immediately reached down, grabbed her glasses, and handed them to her. It was a simple act of kindness, yet when you consider the timing of his prayer and the timing of his walk, it becomes something more profound. He had just prayed to be used by God, and at that exact moment, God orchestrated a small but meaningful opportunity for him to help. It reminded me of the quote from Aesop, “No act of kindness is ever wasted.” That simple, kind gesture may have meant more to that lady than we could ever know.

Kindness and gentleness make such a powerful pair, and I love how Colossians 3:12 describes them. It says, “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Think about it: every day we put on clothes to go about our daily activities—work clothes for the office, workout gear for the gym, or even pajamas for rest. I, for one, love fashion, and I enjoy putting together outfits. So, when I read that God calls us to "clothe ourselves" with virtues like kindness and gentleness, I get excited! It’s a visual I can relate to—a way to intentionally prepare ourselves for the day. Just like we pick out our physical clothes, we are called to choose to wear these spiritual qualities as well.

Kindness and gentleness are two qualities that complement each other perfectly. The Oxford Dictionary defines kindness as being closely tied to gentleness—when one is displayed, the other is too. It's not enough to just "try" to be kind; we must make the choice daily to wear these qualities as a part of who we are. As we go about our day, we will encounter people who need kindness and gentleness. Whether it's a stranger, a colleague, a friend, or even a family member, God will bring people across our path who need to see His love through our actions. Our kindness and gentleness can be a light in their day and a reflection of God’s heart.

So, let’s commit to clothing ourselves with kindness and gentleness daily. These are outfits that can never go out of style, and they will carry us through each day, filling our paths with love and making an impact on those around us.

Reflection Questions:

• Do I consciously choose to clothe myself with kindness and gentleness every day?
• Am I praying for opportunities to bring kindness and gentleness into the lives of others?

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your word and for the reminder to clothe myself with kindness and gentleness each day. Use me, Lord, to bring kindness to everyone I meet and to be gentle in my interactions. I pray that as I walk through my day today, You would open my eyes to the opportunities You bring my way—those moments where I can show Your love through a simple act of kindness. Help me to be purposeful in wearing these qualities and to be a reflection of Your heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.