A friendly, elderly man plopped himself beside me today while we waited at Bob Evans for a table. He quickly engaged me in conversation and introduced himself as “Bob.” We covered the gamut in our 10-minute wait which included comments about having joy. “Not just happiness and having a good time,” Bob emphasized, “but joy inside.”

“A heart attitude,” I added. He agreed. I couldn’t resist mentioning that joy is a fruit of the Spirit (since that’s been on my mind these days.) Before they called my name for a table, Bob handed me a ballpoint pen that read, “Have a nice day. Bob.” He keeps several on hand to pass out to people. What a nice thing to do.

The heart attitude we think of today is kindness. In essence, the Holy Spirit wants to give us desires and attitudes that mimic God Himself.

When Joseph was unfairly cast in prison by Potiphar, “the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” (Genesis 39:21) 

Some of King David’s last words, as he looked back over his life, were thankfulness for God’s “unfailing kindness to his anointed.” (2 Samuel 22:51) 

Paul often paired kindness with understanding, patience, and compassion. 2 Corinthians 6:6 and Colossians 3:12

We have thought at length about the heart attitude, but to “bear fruit” means we have to put it into action at some point. A kind heart will produce kind acts.

Have you ever listened to a family member answering the phone and noticed the different voices they have as they respond to the person on the other end of the line? Right away you can tell if it is a telemarketer, a loved one, or a bothersome friend. Our very voice inflection points out our bent toward kindness or lack thereof. 

Speaking of the phone—several years ago, I was knee-deep in child rearing a 5 year-old daughter and a terrible two’s son. I had a particularly bad morning with them and was mad as a hornet—then the phone rang. Before I thought, I said, “Hello” in the most disgusted voice you can imagine (yes, sweet Joyce) and the lovely elderly lady from church responded in a frightened voice. “Joyce?” I instantly melted and realized how awful I had sounded. I made no excuse—there wasn’t one. It was a mighty lesson. My kindness fruit (and patience, for that matter) was dearly lacking.

Can we show equal kindness to the lady whose body odor nearly knocks us down, as we do to the church staff member we adore? Can we speak a word of encouragement to the mother who is struggling to keep her children at bay in the doctor’s office rather than frowning piously? If we have the gift of leadership but are asked to do a menial job in a ministry, can we kindly help with what’s needed? If we have the gift of helping, can we show kindness to the bossy leader?

Let’s pray that we can heed Paul’s words:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy, and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 2:12

~ Joyce ~