October 6th, 2026
Kindness is a beautiful thing. It reflects the very heart of God. When we are kind to people, animals and even other's stuff, we are revealing our maturity. We show that God is working in our lives.
I remember back in the day when videocassette rentals carried a label that said: "Be Kind. Rewind." It was a cute but simple request to think about the next person renting the cassette.
Perhaps that's the best way to look at kindness overall.
It's a "pay it forward" investment into the people around us—the ones we know (and love) and those we know we'll never see again. When we're kind to others we show respect, appreciation and awareness.
Kindness has taken a beating in our ever-increasing course and impatient American culture. From driving around town to buying something at a store to daily interactions at work, fewer people seem to choose to be kind. And it has taken a toll on all of us. A lack of kindness creates stress, anxiety and fear.
Our children now grow up in a world where "mean girls" and bullies are given the attention and sometimes even the glory. In many homes today, siblings bully each other through destructive words, attitudes and behaviors. Then they go to school and take even more abuse. Children get labeled and called cruel names. Social media only adds to the problem. It's still early but the first generation purely raised on social media is now graduating high school...and what we see and hear is (or should be) alarming.
For the Christian, kindness is a character trait of maturity. It's an expression of who we are in Jesus. Kindness reflects the peace, love, joy and hope we carry within our souls. Gentle people are kind people. Patient people are kind people. Humble people are kind people. Generous people are kind people.
Paul wrote the Galatians (5:22-23): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
If you haven't noticed it before, look again: kindness is the middle rung in this list of Spirit-driven qualities. On one side you have "love, joy, peace and patience" (things you are) while on the other you have "goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (things you do based upon who you are). You act good because there's a joy within. You are gentle because you enjoy inner peace. There's self-control because you've learned patience and there's fidelity because you genuinely love.
And yet the swing characteristic that glues all these attributes together is KINDNESS. In fact, you could argue that none of these other characteristics can exist without kindness. Love isn't love if you aren't kind. Joy and peace are empty without kindness. When we're kind we are also patient, good, faithful, gentle and in control of our passions.
Consequently, kindness is a significant trait for anyone to possess. But let's be honest: it's pretty easy being kind to people we like. It's easy being kind to furry kittens. But what about those who agitate us? Or hurt us? Or abandon us? What about those for whom we carry a prejudice? People too young? Too old? Too fat? People with a different ethnicity, religion or political party?
Our ability to be kind to everyone is a sign of maturity. It reflects our awareness of needs, our appreciation for humanity and our desire to sacrificially serve others without reward. We are motivated by love.
So that's the challenge this month: BE KIND.
And the irony? When you spread kindness somehow it always comes back to you. You get to enjoy the beauty and blessing of your kind words, attitudes and behaviors.
It's also how you know God is working in your life and He IS always working.
Today is your day. Be blessed and a (kind) blessing to everyone and everything you meet!
Yours Very Kindly,
Pastor David
I remember back in the day when videocassette rentals carried a label that said: "Be Kind. Rewind." It was a cute but simple request to think about the next person renting the cassette.
Perhaps that's the best way to look at kindness overall.
It's a "pay it forward" investment into the people around us—the ones we know (and love) and those we know we'll never see again. When we're kind to others we show respect, appreciation and awareness.
Kindness has taken a beating in our ever-increasing course and impatient American culture. From driving around town to buying something at a store to daily interactions at work, fewer people seem to choose to be kind. And it has taken a toll on all of us. A lack of kindness creates stress, anxiety and fear.
Our children now grow up in a world where "mean girls" and bullies are given the attention and sometimes even the glory. In many homes today, siblings bully each other through destructive words, attitudes and behaviors. Then they go to school and take even more abuse. Children get labeled and called cruel names. Social media only adds to the problem. It's still early but the first generation purely raised on social media is now graduating high school...and what we see and hear is (or should be) alarming.
For the Christian, kindness is a character trait of maturity. It's an expression of who we are in Jesus. Kindness reflects the peace, love, joy and hope we carry within our souls. Gentle people are kind people. Patient people are kind people. Humble people are kind people. Generous people are kind people.
Paul wrote the Galatians (5:22-23): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
If you haven't noticed it before, look again: kindness is the middle rung in this list of Spirit-driven qualities. On one side you have "love, joy, peace and patience" (things you are) while on the other you have "goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (things you do based upon who you are). You act good because there's a joy within. You are gentle because you enjoy inner peace. There's self-control because you've learned patience and there's fidelity because you genuinely love.
And yet the swing characteristic that glues all these attributes together is KINDNESS. In fact, you could argue that none of these other characteristics can exist without kindness. Love isn't love if you aren't kind. Joy and peace are empty without kindness. When we're kind we are also patient, good, faithful, gentle and in control of our passions.
Consequently, kindness is a significant trait for anyone to possess. But let's be honest: it's pretty easy being kind to people we like. It's easy being kind to furry kittens. But what about those who agitate us? Or hurt us? Or abandon us? What about those for whom we carry a prejudice? People too young? Too old? Too fat? People with a different ethnicity, religion or political party?
Our ability to be kind to everyone is a sign of maturity. It reflects our awareness of needs, our appreciation for humanity and our desire to sacrificially serve others without reward. We are motivated by love.
So that's the challenge this month: BE KIND.
And the irony? When you spread kindness somehow it always comes back to you. You get to enjoy the beauty and blessing of your kind words, attitudes and behaviors.
It's also how you know God is working in your life and He IS always working.
Today is your day. Be blessed and a (kind) blessing to everyone and everything you meet!
Yours Very Kindly,
Pastor David
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