A Magnolia's Heart Beats

One WFW, I began a Fruit of the Spirit theme. My first post started with the verse, and each week I have been led to post one on each fruit. I have posted on love, joy , peace and patience. This week's fruit is kindness.

The greek word for kindness used in this verse as well as Galatians 5:22-23 is chrestotes. It means "moral goodness, integrity; benignity, kindness".

What does kindness mean to you? It's easy to be kind to the people we love and to those who love us, but what about showing kindness to people who are less than kind to us?

Though it's not always easy, it's something we are commanded to do.

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." ~ Ephesians 4:32

How can we be kind to others who have wronged us? I think in the above verse, the "forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" part definitely applies. When we consider how much grace and forgiveness we have been given from God, it should bubble up and spill over in our lives to help us be kind, or at least kindhearted, to others.

Does it mean getting involved in people's lives who have *really* hurt us? Not so much. I don't think God wants us to be human punching bags or doormats for people who will never change; however, we can be kindhearted toward them, in choosing not to gossip about them and holding them in our prayers when we can.

Showing brotherly kindness should be one of our daily goals, I believe. A little kindness goes a long way.

"Be ye kind, one to another..." Ephesians 4:32

B - be on the lookout for ways to be kind

Y - yield to others, putting their needs before your own

K - kindle a friendship out of kindness to another

O - open your heart to love the unloveable

T - take time to ask God who needs an extra dose of kindness today

A - anonymous kindness is fun - don't take the first parking place you see closest to the door, pay someone's way behind you at the movies, pay for a stranger's meal at a restaurant, mail encouraging cards to someone who is down, get really random with it.

From texting someone a Bible verse at the beginning of their day to leaving an anonymous note saying, "You're the best!", even to praying for those we can't actually reach out to because of personal reasons, BYKOTA can work. Like most things, kindness begins with prayer. I know I don't always feel like being kind (I am human like that), but prayer can get me there! To me, random acts of kindness or anonymous acts of kindness are the best. I enjoy that so much!

Questions from my heart to yours: What are some ways you show kindness to others? What does kindness mean to you? Do you have a favorite verse on kindness?

Amydeanne is the hostess of Word Filled Wednesdays. Kindly pay her a visit, won't you?