Day 23 - Restoring Kindness

“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” Job 6: 14

Meditate or Reflect
A few months ago, when I was at the grocery store, there was an elderly woman short of money in the checkout, and the person behind her paid the difference. Or the times when we hear a person is particularly sad or lonely, and a friend shows up to be a shoulder to lean on.  When I was a high school teacher, I saw countless classrooms become safe places for students during the lunch hour, or teachers with extra lunch items for hungry students. When I think of kindness toward one another, I think of stories such as these. Stories of generosity remind me not only that we are capable of kindness, but also that our creator made us to be kind. However, we also see far too many news stories these days where people are selfish, cruel, vulgar, and demoralizing toward others. In many ways the rhythm of the world has become self-centered, and few make time for kindness. But when we make kindness a way of life, we are reminded of the words of Jesus: “I tell you the truth, when you did it [showed kindness] to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25: 40). Kindness is the way of Jesus.