But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!    Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

This week we look at the fruit of the spirit of kindness. Kindness is defined as “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate”. But kindness is more than just being friendly and nice to others. James 2:17 tells us: So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Kindness is doing something generous or considerate for others. Kindness is love in action.

One of my favorite words to describe God in the Old Testament is lovingkindness. Because this character of God associates love and kindness as equal parts of the same trait, the same action. God loves and therefore His kindness abounds. God’s ultimate act of lovingkindness (kindness) was to send His Son to save us. God’s amazing plan to reconcile humankind with Himself.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the shepherd separating His flock into sheep and goats. He describes the sheep as the “blessed of the Father” who showed acts of kindness to the shepherd by providing food, drink, shelter, clothing, and visitation to the sick and imprisoned. The sheep ask, when did we do these things for you? And Jesus replies, “And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” Matthew 25:40

If we love, the first fruit of the spirit, then kindness will follow. If we love our neighbor as ourselves, then we will turn that love into acts of kindness. God, our Father, shows us His abundant lovingkindness. Let us turn around and share His lovingkindness with those we come into contact with on a daily basis.

This week choose to do a kindness for someone you know (or don’t know). What is their need? How could you fulfill it with an act of kindness? There are so many needs in our own communities and neighborhoods. Try to get your family and your children involved. What ideas do they have or what needs do they know of? List out things you could do for someone else.

Write a note or send a card.                                 Buy or prepare a meal.

Spend time visiting with someone.                       Offer to do a chore for someone who can’t.

Read to someone.                                                Pay for a meal for someone who needs it.

Chauffeur someone who can’t drive.                    Pray with someone who needs healing or help.

The list and the needs are truly endless when we really start looking. We will be blessed for our acts of kindness to others as God showers us with His lovingkindness.

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week to explore another fruit of the spirit – kindness.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Aesop