In Galatians 5: 22-23, the apostle Paul writes of the fruit of the Spirit. His beautiful and inspiring list includes one virtue which is sometimes underrated. Along with love, joy, faithfulness and the rest, he says that the fruit of the Spirit is kindness.
Kind people are those who go out of their way to make life better for others. They put themselves in others' shoes and ask, "How can I make them happier?"
They're the people who notice someone standing by themselves in church and go up to them.
They're the people who praise a child's drawing or craft work and make sure they include them in a conversation.
They'll compliment someone on what they contribute or how they're looking.
They'll say the right words when someone's down.
They're attentive to things people didn't know they needed until they received them.
Kindness isn't about how you feel. Of all the virtues Paul lists, it's the one that's manifest most in what you do. You can't fake kindness. But if you practise it, you'll get better at it and the fruit will grow.
Here are seven sayings about kindness from the book of Proverbs.
1. A kind-hearted woman gains honour, but ruthless men gain only wealth (11:16).
2. Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves (11:17).
3. The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel (12:10).
4. Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up (12:25).
5. It is a sin to despise one's neighbour, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy (14:21).
6. Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done (19:17).
7. Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor (28:8).
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