The Power of Kindness

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Kindness…such a simple word, but oh so powerful.

It can be defined as being friendly, generous, or compassionate.

Mark Twain once said, "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see". If we think about kindness this way, perhaps we can think of it as a universal language. All humans can understand the value of kindness.

Kindness lives deep in your heart and can sometimes be buried by bitterness or hurt. But when it is allowed to flourish, it can produce a ripple effect.

Has someone gone out of their way to show you kindness? How did it make you feel? Or, have you shown someone kindness recently? From my experience, it is often more rewarding to show kindness than to receive it.

When I think about kindness, I am reminded of the butterfly. The butterfly is a beautiful creature. When I look at a butterfly, I can’t help but think that it looks like it was actually hand painted by God. The colors, designs, and symmetry are all a testament to God’s desire for us to see beauty all around us.

The butterfly may look fragile and delicate; but it is powerful, strong, and important. It’s dainty wings hold up and propel the butterfly's body through the air in a graceful dance across the sky. A butterfly goes through an incredible transformation which is long and difficult. It also has the important job of carrying pollen from flower to flower; which creates more beauty when flowers reproduce new seeds.

Kindness is the same. Kindness gives beauty to the world. By some it may be considered delicate or a sign of weakness. But it is powerful enough that it can break down walls and heal emotional wounds. Proverbs 16:24 (NLT) says “Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body”.

Not only can kindness heal, it is also contagious. Just like the butterfly pollinates flowers, kindness is carried from person to person. When someone has shown you kindness, do you turn around and want to show kindness to someone else? It can energize us to poor out and be a blessing to someone else.

You may have heard the term “butterfly effect”. The basic understanding of the butterfly effect is that one small change can make a difference. I believe that the smallest act of kindness can make a huge difference in someone’s life, and it can cause others to show kindness as well.

Jesus is our greatest example of someone who showed kindness. He showed mercy, forgiveness, and grace. He was a servant leader and gave all He had to a world that needs to see the beauty that only kindness can bring.

As you reflect today, allow Jesus’ example to guide you, and show someone the beauty of kindness.

Lord Jesus, forgive me when I have not shown kindness to others. Help me to paint the world with kindness. Let others see the beauty of kindness and the importance of what showing kindness can do. I pray that kindness flows from my joyful heart and becomes contagious to those around me. Amen

Journal prompt: Have I been showing kindness? What can I do TODAY to show someone kindness?