Acts of Kindness

One night, from my bedroom, I could hear my daughter coughing every few minutes or so.

This did concern me, but I didn’t do anything about it.

She continued to cough.

I continued to lie in bed – awake, but non-responsive to her need.

And then…. conviction settled in with the question, “How many times do we hear or see someone suffering, yet we do nothing about it?”

Even if I did not give her medicine or put a humidifier in her room as a solution that would stop the coughing, the least I could have done was to get up and check on her.

In the same way, God gives us what we need to either be a solution or contribute to a solution that someone needs to relieve their troubles and suffering.

Throughout His journey in ministry, Jesus cared for so many people that he passed by on the way to His destinations. Rather than ignoring their pain and sufferings, He took the time to see about them – and even healed them!

His character is one that we ought to mirror at all times; not just when it is convenient for us.

Kindness is a fruit of the spirit that must show through our actions towards people. Simple expressions of kindness can be checking on people, meeting a need, and seeing how we could make life a bit easier just by being the hands and feet of Jesus.

These demonstrations of love and kindness are what draws people to Jesus.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’“

Matthew 25:35-40 NIV