Random Acts of Kindness

Today I needed to go to Costco.  One of the things on my list was dog food.  Dog food at Costco is contained in huge bags.  It is always difficult for me to get a 50+ lb bag into my rolling cart.  Today I was having an especially difficult time.  I was just trying to slide the thing onto the shelf underneath and it kept getting caught on the one brace (for want of a better word) that crossed the shelf.  Every time I shoved, the cart rolled a little further away from me.  My method was obviously not working!  I was getting pretty frustrated when I heard a man’s voice.  “Wait a minute…I will hold the cart for you.”  An older gentleman took a few minutes out of his day to hold my cart. I finally was able to get that huge, unwieldy bag onto the cart once someone kept it from rolling away.

Later on in the day, I was waiting in a very slow-moving, long line.  The cashier next to me opened up a new line, but told the man behind me that she would take him.  The man kindly told me to go ahead.  He had a lot less in his cart than I did.  When I declined for that reason, he told me that he was not in a hurry.  It was very thoughtful of him.

Small things can brighten our days.  Someone lets you merge when the traffic is especially heavy.   Or perhaps someone gives you a warm smile and a hello when you are having a really bad day.  Or, like my experience today, someone kindly left me go first…instead of rushing to make the line before I could get there.  We need to look for little opportunities to be kind and thoughtful.

So often, I am in such a hurry and so wrapped in my selfish agenda that I forget to look at what’s is going on with others around me.  Maybe there is someone beside me in Wal-mart or at the gas station who needs a smile.  Who needs to feel like someone knows they are alive and cares…even if you never see them again.  Maybe it is a waitress who is having a really bad day.  She needs a smile and respect.   What about your hairdresser?  Your mailman?  Your boss?  All of these people have souls.  God loves them.  They deserve to be treated with kindness.

Jesus was so kind to those He met.  There are so many accounts in the scripture.  The children, the woman at the well, Zaccheus, the blind man.  While, of course, we cannot work miracles, we can spread the love of Jesus.   We can open our eyes, look around, and find ways to be thoughtful and kind each day…thinking of others, instead of ourselves.  Not just on Sundays.  Or when we are on a mission trip.  Or during devotions.

The Bible tells us in Luke 16:10 ” He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”

Being kind in the small things is just as important in being kind in the big ones.  Let’s shine our light so brightly that no one doubts where our allegiance lies!

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