This week we have been considering the challenge laid down
by Paul in the book of Corinthians to demonstrate kindness as an act of love.
Our assemblies have reflected on what Kindness really means in practice and we
have thought of many practical examples. its been great to see some of these been put into practice through out the week!
There are some really interesting illustrations of this fact
on You Tube that demonstrate random acts of kindness in action. Worth a search
if you get the time. One video in particular certainly engaged the children, a 20 year old who celebrates her birthday by doing 20 random gifts of kindness. Watching this certainly made us all think.
The word random really emphasises the underlying truth
behind the whole of 1 Corinthians 13 and many of Jesus’s parables. The Good Samaritan
was a random passer-by, Zacchaeus a random tax collector up a tree, the Roman
Centurion and the Woman at the well, random members of society that came into
contact with Jesus. It would seem that kindness as an expression of love
from a biblical view point is less about emotions and more about every day
relationships with anyone we come into contact with.
I love the words of Mother Teresa when she comments on
kindness as follows:
“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”
Most certainly a thought to challenge us on what the sharing of God's love looks like in practice.
