Do you remember a time when someone treated you with kindness? You happily recall that moment of kindness that filled your heart with joy. Like your personal experience, others will feel joy whenever you show them kindness.
It is said that kindness isn’t supposed to be something we express only when we feel like doing it. It should come from the fruits of our spirit and should be a defining characteristic of who we are as human beings. The Apostle Paul in the bible said this to the Corinthians, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Kindness is one of the virtues that can bless the heart. As for blessing the individual’s heart, kindness may not be innate, but thankfully it can be learned through practice. If we make it a habit of being kind to others, sooner or later it will develop into a virtue to be cherished. And the heart will be blessed. This is to say, the whole being of a person will experience joyfulness.
Notice that the Apostle describes kindness, humility, gentleness and patience as traits which are like “clothing, which is something we can put on, and something we can grow into.” Showering others with kindness makes you feel good all over.
My favorite quote by poet Maya Angelou is about kindness. She said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
If you want others to have a lasting memory about you, then subscribe to Maya Angelou’s belief that people will never forget what you did for them. As leaders in this great country, let’s do more in preserving humanity by clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And Never Give Up! Never Give Up! Never Give Up!
By Dr. Walter Ghosten
chaplain@lhp.net
