The Davis Duo Dwelling

The other day I was inside my granddaughters school waiting for the bell to ring, and I noticed a small poster from an organization called Acts of Kindness, with its purpose being to promote random acts of kindness.  Next to the poster was a very large chalk board where the children wrote about their random acts.  I love this idea!

As I read through some of the articles on the website I realized the entire site was geared for educators and students with ideas for teachers to promote kindness.  There are many resources available.

An article on the site spoke about the health benefits of kindness, both physical and mental.

“Helping contributes to the maintenance of good health, and it can diminish the effect of diseases and disorders serious and minor, psychological and physical.

A rush of euphoria, followed by a longer period of calm, after performing a kind act is often referred to as a “helper’s high,” involving physical sensations and the release of the body’s natural painkillers, the endorphins. This initial rush is then followed by a longer-lasting period of improved emotional well-being.”

I recommend taking a few minutes to read the article.

I live in a small town where random acts of kindness still occur.  Just yesterday a friend stopped by just to give me some company.  (i’m presently healing from surgery)  It was 20 minutes out of her day and made us both feel good.  It’s not unusual to get a phone call ‘just because’, or a plate of cookies, even a chocolate pie!  Last year a lady brought by a handful of children’s movies thinking it might be of some help to us as we found ourselves with grandchildren for an extended period of time.  And just 2 weeks ago a friend came by with a beautiful gift that still brings me so much joy.  She took the time to find and purchase a small pillow, then sewed 2 different pillow cases for it so when one got dirty i simply had to take off the other.

I wonder if we are born with kindness or is it something to be attained and maybe learned?

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control.

Colossians 3:12  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

2 Peter 1:3-9   ³His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

After reading these scriptures I tend to want to believe that kindness is something to be attained and learned and given.

To be kind is to love.  To be kind is a quality; it is a fruit of the Spirit and something we are to clothe ourselves in.  So it takes effort, thought, desire to be so.  And it is something God has, is divine in nature and He is willing to give to us.

You’ve probably heard the story of the man who got out of bed in the morning, something happened to cause him to be angry and he carried that anger through out the day, spewing it upon each person he encountered who then did the same and so the anger affected many people, even ones he didn’t know.  So then all we have to do is replace the anger with kindness.

I think it is easier to spread  anger than it is to spread kindness.  Kindness takes thought and effort.

I’m going to pray for kindness; Godly kindness that involves love, affection, sacrifice.  And as I do I will thank God for the kindest act of all, giving His Son so that I may too know loving kindness.