Stories of Kindness
Written by Ian Jannaway
Todays offering continues in the series ‘humankind’ and comes from a lived and experiential perspective.
We had two talks that were moving, and shed light on the human condition concerning kindness.
Firstly we have Sue, who shared the moving story of her loving relationship with her late husband Eddie. She spoke eloquently about how kindness had changed her life, especially within their relationship.
Sue mentioned that kindness can be interpreted in many ways, it can be accepted at face value or it can be interpreted as something used for an ulterior motive. She said that kindness can become a movement, we see that in the example of Jesus in 1 John 4;19 “we love because he first loved us”
Sue identified Eddie as the obvious choice of someone who had been kind to her, unlike her first husband. Eddie put her first and made her feel loved.
He was a man who was habitually kind, and she learned to reciprocate that love. When Eddie became ill, he continued to show kindness towards her, by keeping how ill and in pain he was, from her. At this time they both turned their faces towards God in a way they never had done before.
Luke 22;42 “Father if it is your will take this cup from me, nevertheless not my will but your will be done”
They shared a love story that continues on today.
What made Eddie so kind, considering he came from a hard background in life? Eddie knew that kindness made a difference and comes from God.
He personified the fruits of the spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law
We never know the impact we have on some people, sometimes our kindness can be misinterpreted but we must press on. We may be the only face of kindness some people ever see.
Our second example of kindness came from a young man called Darryl. He was a wayward youngster getting involved in gang culture, and getting arrested after graffitiing a wall aged 14. The police who arrested him were hard core offensive and racist towards him. In the middle of the night the cell door opens and he thinks it is a trick, but an officer beckons him out and shares a can of coke with him! It would be fair to say he was not expecting this!
The policeman takes the time to get to know Darryl, taking an interest in his future. He treated Darryl like a human being and not just another wayward black kid from the streets. They find themselves laughing together! The policeman had a name, Ian.
Darryl recognised that one moment changed his life, and he Jesus entered his life. At 17 he became a youth pastor, and one day he encountered Ian again. He was able to share how much Ian’s kindness had changed his life, Ian shared that he was a Christian. Ian also personified the fruits of the spirit just like Eddie.
Kindness can change a life.
This week let us be intentionally kind. Jesus was.
Comment the name of someone you know who has shown you kindness that has influenced you.