KINDNESS

Henry James (1843-1916) wrote, “There are three things that are important in human life. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind.”  

Kindness is being friendly, generous and considerate. This can mean being thoughtful, compassionate, loving and understanding. The opposite would be unkind and bitter, hateful and mean spirited.

As humans, we respond to kindness. We do not respond well to unkindness. As Christians there is (supposedly) no alternative to being kind. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian church, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” In the Galatian letter kindness is also listed with goodness as two of the nine gifts of the Spirit given to the believer.

“I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” Jesus