31 Days to Fruitful Living — Day 21
Sow kindness. A kind person promotes good and exudes grace and gentleness. The kind will meet needs out of a genuine desire to serve and be useful to others. As a result, meekness blooms in the heart when this fruit is cultivated.
On Saturday, I had lunch with an old friend. I ordered a water, and the waiter brought out a tall class filled with ice and garnished with a lime. I squeezed the juice of that green fruit into my drink, and I must admit that I really enjoyed it. There was a fresh flavor — a brightness that refreshed me and caused me to thirst for more.
I think that’s what the fruit of kindness does. As we extend ourselves to others, they should enjoy being around us — we are called to refresh the spirits of those we rub shoulders with. Hopefully, we whet their appetites for more of what the Spirit inside us has to offer.
You see, one who is kind is often described as “mellow,” never harsh nor demanding. This fruit results in excellence, strength of character, and integrity. Basically, kind people are good people who selflessly minister to their neighbor.
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“As God’s partners,we beg you
not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness
and then ignore it.
For God says,
‘At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.’
Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now.
Today is the day of salvation.
We live in such a way
that no one will stumble because of us,
and no one will find fault with our ministry.
In everything we do,
we show that we are true ministers of God.
We patiently endure troubles
and hardships and calamities of every kind.”
II Corinthians 6:1-4, NLT
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Q4U: How would you define kindness? How do you cultivate this fruit in your life?
Thanks for joining me for Day 21!
Great Post! My simple definition of kindness would be to do for others as you would like them to do for you…
I agree, Danise. It’s hard when you are faced with a “not-so-nice” person though!
Definitely a prayer for my boys. I’ve used this definition of Kindness at their age (5) – treating others how you want to be treated. I realize this is a little moralistic, but I’m thankful that God’s kindness toward us is centered in his hesed (lovingkindness) – a covenant love he extends toward us! Great post!
Melissa, I think it’s great that you are being intentional about teaching your boys to be kind — one day, they are going to be men, and there will be 2 special ladies who are going to thank you for being so purposeful in raising them.
Beautiful shot and great writing!
Thanks, Elizabeth. It’s actuallly a stock photo (photo credit at bottom of post). When I found the picture, the post basically wrote itself. 🙂
Lovely post, Lyli. I think that the best way to cultivate lasting fruit in our lives is to remember that it’s the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Unless kindness is a natural part of our personality, it takes submitting to the work of Christ to produce lasting change. Don’t you?
Yes, Pat. I think my job is to daily yield to the Spirit (The problem is that sometimes I am more of a speeder than a yielder! I am so glad that He is patient with me.)
Thanks for hosting this month! I’ve enjoyed visiting your space. 🙂
That scripture has transformed my mind and heart in ministry. I committed to memorizing it one year when I was struggling. It gave me such a good focus in how to be a true minister of the Word of God through my life, heart and mind. Blessings to you! Thanks so much for sharing and for the reminder of such powerful verses. Love, Rachael @ Inking the Heart (linking after you at Barbie’s)
Rachael, I am so glad you stopped by today. I love I and II Corinthians — they are so rich with nuggets like this one. 🙂
You know it takes little effort to be kind, we just don’t often do it. Or even to smile. I have found if I smile at strangers in the store they either smile back or shrink because of not knowing how to respond. Kindness is such a needed thing these days.
It’s true, Sharon. Kindness is so rare in some circles that folks don’t know how to receive it.
Thanks for inspiring us to be kind:)
So glad you stopped by today, Joy! I enjoyed visiting your blog. 🙂
Hi Lyli
We can learn from Paul who suffered so much for the true gospel of Jesus. He trusted our Pappa’s power and grace to always preach the truth and to rather sacrifice his freedom than to put a stumbling block in another soul’s path through false preaching!
Blessings XX
Mia
Paul is such an amazing example of life completely changed by God. His conversion story is one of my favorite stores in the Bible. 🙂
I have a plaque by the door leaving the house that states “kindness matters”… a good reminder as I go out the door to be kind to those around me and it’s in the family room…also a reminder to be kind to those in our home 🙂 thanks for the refreshing teaching on kindness…you make me thirst for more!
I need to buy that plaque…. 🙂
I think about Jesus, and how it was His kindness that led others to accept Him. He listened, hung out with them, gave food, shelter, clothing, water. Kindness is simply reaching out to meet the need of another at the time. Thanks for linking up at The Weekend Brew!
Yes, I almost used that verse in this post — the one that says “God’s kindness leads us to repentance.” Such a powerful truth!
I’m writing a small devotional on kindness. I believe it is important to clothe ourselves in kindness daily. (I love lime water, too.)
Pamela, what a great idea for a devotional! We grew up using limes instead of lemons at my house, but I never thought to put it in water. Now, I know better. 🙂
I must admit, your excellent photography brought me again to one of your posts! About kindness… I pray that “the law of kindness” will be in my mouth!
Esther, I have learned to love the value of a well-placed photo through blogging. Most of these pictures are stock photos, but I now have a goal to learn to use a camera more effectively….