“Love is patient, love is kind. …it is not self-seeking…“ (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, NIV)
We are halfway through “31 Days of Kindness” today at noon. For me, it has been an eye-opening, introspective fifteen days. On the one hand, I have discovered I’m a pretty nice guy. I really do enjoy doing nice things for people.
But I have learned something else about myself, too. Something I probably won’t put on my next press release.
I am a selfish person.
I’m not mean. I’m not angry. I’m not rude. Like I say, I actually enjoy helping people. The problem is that I often don’t remember to be nice. If an opportunity arises I will be kind – but I’m not out looking for opportunities. I don’t think about being kind to other people because I’m consumed with something else: Myself. I spend my day thinking about my problems and their solutions, focusing on the things I care about, contemplating what God’s doing in my life, etc. I wonder if you have done this in the last fifteen days: You’re lying in bed at night thinking back over the day, searching to find something to classify as your “kind deed” for the day. “Oh yeah, I opened the door for the guy who had his hands full…that’s kind, right?”
We’ve probably all done that – which is the point of this kindness exercise. God’s character is love – and he wants that to be our character as well. Love is best expressed as we reach out to others (kindness) and put them first (not self-seeking). I’m not great at it…but I’ve discovered I enjoy it. I’m praying that before the next fifteen days are done, this will become a habit in my life.
I want to hear your stories. What has God done through an act of kindness? Let me know…email me at pastorjim@newlifedenton.org.
