Fruits Of The Spirit – Revealed At ChristmasНамуна

KINDNESS 

Kindness is a virtue that can be understood when we understand the big picture. Some of the acts of kindness we see in the Christmas story include Joseph deciding to divorce Mary quietly when he found that she was pregnant. Joseph accepting and taking care of Mary as his wife on the advice of the angel. The Magi sharing their wealth with baby Jesus. 

Now kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. The above examples fulfill these qualities given the situation 2000 yrs ago. Now how can we show kindness today? Showing kindness involves understanding the other person the way they are and accepting them for who they are. Accepting them does not mean we endorse and do what the other person wants if it contradicts to what we believe, but it sure can involve respecting them for who they are. 

The reality of life is, it is easier to be kind to strangers and the less privileged than to those whom we know well, and we believe do not deserve our kindness. Jesus encourages us to be kind saying even if we give a cup of cold water to his disciples we will not lose our reward. The Bible also encourages us to show hospitality to strangers as by doing so they have entertained angels without knowing it. 

Thought for today: 

To whom does God want me to be kind today whom I believe does not deserve my kindness?