A Kindness that Warms the Soul

I watched as my husband sat with our grandson, who is at the 
"say & do...everything you do" phase. 

He wants to please his grandpapa...
"Say please"..."Peess" is returned with a 
bright smile.
Did you tell Grandma thank you for lunch?..."Tank you Grama"

But sometimes his 2 year old self gets in his way...
He raises a defiant "MINE!", as he pulls at his beloved toy. 
"Stop-it!" he says with rumbled brow as he tires of a game..."Stop-it, please" reminds Grandpa. "Stop-it Peesss", comes his reply.
Our grandson is being taught to respond politely.

Proverbs 3:1-2
 "My son, always remember what I have taught you;
    keep my instructions dear to your heart.
If you do, they will be your guide to
    a long, healthy,prosperous life."
(VOICE)

On another note...I love the hussle and bussle of an International airport and being the passenger that is ready to embark on a long awaited adventure. 
You know how it feels... 
you are at the airport...you have checked your list numberous times...
yup...you have everything...
done everything...and remembered everything. 
Everything you needed to do is done...

Then the only thing that you couldn't control has happened...
with a mighty rearranging of everything compromised weather has developed...
So BIG...it has closed down airports...
delayed flights...and angered a huge line of 
"to-be" passengers 
of which you are at the very end of that line.
Last year on our way to visit our son and his family I had the privilege of watching an incredible airport employee do her job and do it well! 
She had the knack of "calm in the midst of a storm". 
She stayed focused and got us all through the situation with ease and a sense that
our plans were important! 
Her thoughtfulness was well received. 
On our return flight we spotted her out in front of the terminal assisting a person in a wheelchair who needed to catch her bus. She was trained to alleviate the distress of customers when the "BIG storms of discontent" 
came thundering down the runway.

---

Proverbs3:3 
"Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth;
    engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck;
    meditate on them so they are written upon your heart."

You know if I am to tell you the truth...
sometimes I hear those voices echoing around in my own head. 
"I don't want to share...me first...good to the last drop...oops sorry none for you!"

There is a word that I found in Greek that fits the airport employee's actions; 
chrēstos,
an adjective meaning "good, mild, and fit for use." 

This woman was a good fit for her job, and I should say she serves her employer well. 
You too have been...outfitted with a very special attribute as a believer......Kindness. 

Remember...it is one of the fruits that can we can use to "remedy neglect".
The neglect that people face everyday...
the feelings of being... 

Overlooked
Forgotten
The invisibles

In this life you can be trained to show acts of kindness or 
you can be taught to respond with a kind answer but here is an important nugget of truth.
What brings the training all together is...
heart matters!
The remedy comes from our helper who is busy training us up...the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:4
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." 
(NIV)


Kindness has to be sincere, to be felt...anchored in love...
Then kindness will overflow from your heart in gracious abundance.


I am reminded of the story of Paul on the Island of Malta, 

Acts 28:1-2, 
"Once we were safe on shore, 
we learned that we were on the island of Malta. 
The people of the island were very kind to us. 
It was cold 
and rainy, 
so they built a fire on the shore 
to welcome us."

Won't you welcome someone in out of the cold of this world 
with the  kindness that is wrapped around your 
heart...attitude and gestures? 


Dear Lord, Help me to show kindness to everyone I meet today. May they see the kindness of your love in everything I do!


Caprice <><