With so much anger and hostility in the world today, kindness and gentleness stand out when we see them in action around us.
I read a heartwarming news article on the Internet today about some Target employees taking the time to help a young man who came into the store to get a clip-on tie for a job interview. The store does not carry clip on ties, so the young man bought a regular tie and the employees assisted him with tying it and gave him some coaching on how to handle the interview. A customer in the store saw what was happening, took a photo, and posted it online. The story went viral. The customer who took the photo commented, “It was a very quiet simple moment, but it was very profound honestly [sic] kindness . . . from strangers . . . in a Super Target.”
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if most of the news stories we read or saw were stories of kindness, and the ones that went viral were the stories of anger and hostility because they are so rarely seen? In reality, the heartwarming stories are not the ones that make most of the news.
The late priest and author Henri Nouwen observes, “Kindness is a beautiful human attribute. When we say, ‘She is a kind person’ or ‘He surely was kind to me,’ we express a very warm feeling. In our competitive and often violent world, kindness is not the most frequent response.”
While the news may not carry the stories of kindness, we should all strive to be kind to each other regardless of gender, race, color, nationality, sexual orientation, economic status, religion or political views.
Nouwen continues, “Here is the great challenge: All people, whatever their color, religion, or sex, belong to humankind and are called to be kind to one another, treating one another as brothers and sisters. There is hardly a day in our lives in which we are not called to this.”
Sometimes the most difficult people to show kindness to are those close to us.
Being kind is a far healthier way to live. A positive mindset is needed to be kind and to see value in others regardless of who they are. People who are kind to others are usually kind to themselves first. And this is what Jesus admonished us to do when He said to love our neighbors as ourselves.
You may not agree with another person’s position on any given topic, but that does not mean you cannot and should not be kind to them.
Being kind to another means showing respect, not being mean or judgmental but gracious and nice in their presence and absence. You can disagree and still be kind.
Being kind to others requires intentionality because our natural human tendency is to be selfish, which usually leads to meanness. Choose to respond not merely on emotions, but decide mentally that you will be kind.
Some may think being kind is weakness. In reality mean behavior is weakness because it requires no effort. On the other hand, kindness requires strength of intention and emotion. As a bonus, the rewards for being kind are far better than the consequences of being mean!
I want to challenge you to make this week Kindness Week, choosing to be kind to everyone you encounter, starting with those who are closest to you. Be kind to others even if you disagree with their position or dislike their attitude.
Who knows: your kindness may go viral!
If you would like help in achieving your goals in any area of your life, call us at 208-880-0307 or email us at errol@errolcarrim.com to schedule a complimentary coaching session. To read Errol’s other posts, visit Christ-Centered Life Coaching.
Photo credit: Timber Hawkeye Treat everyone with kindness … not because they are nice, but because you are via photopin (license)