As we look toward a new year, it’s a perfect time to continue to explore the gifts the Lord has given us through the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

We enter a group of Spirit-filled heart attitudes which seem very similar—kindness, goodness, gentleness. Let’s see if we can break them down.

The heart attitude we think of today is kindness. I think of compassion and understanding as close sisters to kindness.

How did God show kindness to Joseph when he was in Potiphar’s prison?

. . . the Lord was with Joseph; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. Genesis 39:21

When King David looked back over his life, what were things that he was most thankful for?

God’s unfailing kindness to his annointed. 2 Samuel 22:51

Paul says, as God’s chosen people, we are to

. . . clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility . . . Colossians 3:12

What? Eat humble pie? Now we’re getting down to the nitty gritty.

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

My son-in-law, Chad, had finished shopping at the grocery and gone toward his car, when a man came over asking for money. Rather than just giving out money for who knows what, Chad told the man he would go with him into the store to buy some food. The man was most grateful. Then Chad asked if he needed a ride. They rode to a field where the man had a small tent. Heart broken, Chad gave him $20.00. The man thanked him profusely and said, “Oh, now I can buy a sleeping bag!”

Knowing the man would have to spend another cold night on the bare ground, Chad took him back into town to another store so he could purchase the sleeping bag.

Now I’m not saying that we should do this for every beggar that comes our way, but it’s a beautiful example of a caring, kind heart showing 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 phone? Right away you can tell if it is telemarketer, a loved one, or a bothersome friend. Our voice inflection points out our bent toward kindness or lack thereof.

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? 

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

As God’s chosen people, holy, and dearly beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, and humility . . . Colossians 3:12

~ Joyce ~