Kindness A 66-year old woman in Houston discovered an old friend without a place to live, so she invited the homeless friend, Thomas Smith, to stay at her house with her and her 2 young granddaughters. During the night he was woken by a loud bang. He rushed to his friend’s bedroom and found her covered in debris. A fire had broken out in the attic. After freeing his host, he led her and the girls through the smoke to safety. In this case, a kindness was repaid seven fold. When called a hero, the man replied, “I wouldn’t say I’m a hero. I just thank God for helping us.” — Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell The Week, February 5, 2016, p. 4 Ephesians 4:32 (HCSB) And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. Kindness When the “Our Place Restaurant” in Manfield, Texas ran out of soup, they would not discount their Saturday Special or offer a substitute to Dwain Downey. Instead of shrugging it off, Downey, who happens to be an attorney, sent them a demand letter for $2.25, along with an additional $250.00 fee for writing the letter. Benji Arslanovski, the restaurant owner, refuses to pay and says, "I'll take it to court.” Ironically, Downing said, "I don't want to make a big deal of this.”—Jim L. Wilson So much for the Golden Rule. Matthew 7:12 (HCSB) “Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.” KINDNESS Champion canoeist Joe Jacobi took his 1992 Olympic gold medal with him for a television appearance. While he was inside a restaurant, three men broke into his car and took the medal. He launched a social media campaign to try to locate the medal. A six-year-old girl spotted the medal in a wooded area while walking with her family. It was intact, although the base was missing. Even though Jacobi could try to restore the medal to its original state, he said he might leave it the way it was as a reminder of the story behind the loss and recovery.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell Girl finds Olympic gold medal stolen from Atlanta parking lot, By David Beasley, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-georgia-medal-idUSKCN0Z62FJ, Accessed JUne 20, 2016. Mark 10:27 (HCSB) “Looking at them, Jesus said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.’” Kindness Francine Stein passed away at the age of 83, and her daughter was worried no one would come to the funeral service so she put out a request on social media, inviting strangers to come. About 30 people responded to the call for help and became the mourners and pallbearers at her funeral. Rabbi Elchanan Wenibach officiated the service, but said he did not give a eulogy because he did not know anything about Stein’s life. As it turns out, she was a musician, who had once taught Julliard School. One of the people who came said she came to the service as a simple act of “human decency.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell Woman's funeral had no attendees, so 30 strangers showed up, https://www.yahoo.com/news/womans-funeral-had-no-attendees-30-strangers-showed-165108925.html?nhp=1, Accessed August 19, 2016. Colossians 3:23 (HCSB) “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men,” KINDNESS A student driver and her teacher helped London police capture a suspect by giving them a ride to the scene of a crime. Two officers were chasing a suspect on foot and called for backup to help apprehend the offender. Two officers at a patrol base about a mile away responded, but they did not have access to a vehicle. They ran toward the scene and tried to flag down passing cars. The student driver and her instructor stopped and drove the officers to the scene where they were able to apprehend the suspect. They left before police could identify them. Police said, “Sadly we were unable to say thank you to the members of the public that assisted us last night. However, we would like to trace them so we can thank them properly.”–By Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell U.K. student driver gives police ride during emergency call, By Daniel Uria, http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2016/10/15/UK-student-driver-gives-police-ride-during-emergency-call/9651476544779/?spt=sec&or=on, Accessed October 15, 2016. Proverbs 21:21 (HCSB) “The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor.” KINDNESS A church in Southern California passed out Random Act of Kindness (RAK) cards and asked their members to perform random acts of kindness in the community and leave a RAK card with the name of the church. One church member tried this at a Starbucks drive through. Handing the RAK card to the Starbucks attendant he asked her to give the card to the driver of the car behind him as he paid for the coffee. Just as he was pulling away, he received a call from a friend who asked him to pick up a cup of coffee for her. He pulled around and got back into line. When he got to the window, he was given his RAK card and told the person in front of him had already paid for his coffee. The card had traveled through seven cars, each one paying for the person behind them. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell. https://www.pastormentor.com/14-proven-ideas-attract-community-easter/ Ephesians 4:32 (HCSB) “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” KINDNESS The mother of a ten-year-old girl who messaged a police officer for help with her math homework said that the officer’s willingness to help was what mattered most, even though his calculations were a little off. Molly Draper’s daughter, Lena, messaged the Marion police department asking about equations involving addition of numbers in parenthesis and multiplication. Lt. B. J. Gruber responded and walked the fifth-grader through one problem, but when he helped her with another he made a mistake. Draper said the exchange demonstrated her daughter’s trust in police officers and the response was good relationship-building on their part. Gruber took the mistake in stride and joked that his favorite subject had always been history.–Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell Ohio policeman answers girl's request for math homework help, https://www.yahoo.com/news/ohio-policeman-answers-girls-request-math-homework-help-133920333.html, Accessed February 22, 2017. Job 6:14 (HCSB) “A despairing man should receive loyalty from his friends, even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.” KINDNESS Huner Hostetler, a cashier at a restaurant in Scottsburg, Indiana said a woman waiting in the line decide to pay for the big order of a man with four children in a van behind her. She asked Hostetler to wish the man “Happy Father’s Day.” Hostetler said the gesture prompted the man to pay for two cars behind him, and that the kindness eventually spread to 167 cars by closing time. One person who was part of the chain told a local TV station that is was wonderful knowing that there were still “a lot of great people out there.”—Jim L. Wilson & Jim Sandell Kind Act Spreads To 167 Drivers At Indiana McDonald's, http://www.klove.com/news/2017/06/23/Kind-Act-Spreads-To-167-Drivers-At-Indiana-McDonald-s, Accessed June 24, 2017 Proverbs 21:21 (CSB) “The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor.” KINDNESS Jeffery Lew’s third-grade son went to school in Seattle. Jeffery heard that some families at his son’s school owed money to the school lunch program and that after three days the district disables their lunch account and bills the parents. Jeffery checked and the entire debt for the school was 97 dollars. Beyond paying the 97 dollars Lew wondered about the debt for all the families in the entire Seattle Public School District. He began an online fundraiser and in only 4 days had raised enough to cancel the entire $20,531.79 lunch debt owed by students in Seattle schools. It is this kind of heart of compassion that Paul was talking about when he encouraged the Christians in Colossae to be kind and generous to others. Anyone could have thought enough about the school debt to raise the funds to pay it off, Jeffery Lew did. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell. World Magazine, June 10, 2017 p12 Colossians 3:12 (CSB) “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,” KINDNESS Bernard Reedy is an NFL wide receiver, recently traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Tampa Bay Bucs. With a $465,000 contract, Reedy can give up the job he had before he made the big time but he continues to work as a driver for Care Ride, a Tampa-area company providing wheelchair and ambulatory transport. Reedy sees the off-season job as a way to provide help to those in need. This is the kind of goodness that displays spiritual fruit. Pray that we can open our eyes to the needs around us, and that we are not too self-important to meet them. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell. http://www.espn.com/blog/tampa-bay-buccaneers/post/_/id/17068/nfl-players-11-per-hour-side-job-helping-those-who-cant-help-themselves Galatians 5:22–23 (CSB “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.” KINDNESS Chris Mazdzer won a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics. His medal was in the luge competition and is the first luge medal for an American man in the history of the Olympic Games. Before the Games, Mazdzer’s world ranking was sliding as he was struggling in some kind of rut. Just a few weeks before the games, while training in Latvia, a Russian luger offered Mazdzer his sled saying it might give him a boost. The sled was too small and not much help, but the display of friendship from his Russian competitor was a great help. “The display of friendship was really moving,” said Mazdzer, and it kicked him out of his slump and on to Olympic silver. We can never know what some act of kindness can make a difference in the lives of those who are struggling. Paul reminds us that kindness to others should be a part of our toolbox to commend Christ to others. What kindness can you display that might make a difference in the life of another? —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell. The Week, February 23, 2018 p. 4 2 Corinthians 6:6 (CSB) by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, KINDNESS When 4-year-old Austin Perine was watching a program about a homeless baby panda, he asked his dad if there were homeless people. When he learned there were, he took his allowance and purchased chicken sandwiches, went to a local homeless shelter, and gave them away. Now Austin goes on his mission of mercy in Birmingham, Alabama once a week. He now has partners, a Go Fund Me page, and a local Burger King who gives him a $1000 per week monthly allowance to buy food. What a tremendous example from such an unlikely source. Jesus said when we feed the hungry it is as if we were feeding him. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell. The Week, June 8, 2018 p. 4 Matthew 25:35 (CSB) “ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; KINDNESS Angela and an example of kindness for us. A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel person brings ruin on himself. KINDNESS Hundreds of unsuspecting people across the country were surprised when messengers gave them two bouquets of flowers, asking them to keep one and give the other bouquet to someone else. The flower giveaway was a campaign sponsored by the Society of American Florists called “Petal It Forward.” A spokesperson said it is impossible to know what another person in going through, and they wanted to encourage people across the country to think of ways to spread love and kindness.—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/good-news/unexpected-gifts-bring-strangers-joy/ar-BBPpKmB/ Ephesians 4:32 (CSB) “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” KINDNESS Albert Lexie shined shoes for a living. Every Tuesday and Thursday for 32 years, he would leave home at 5:50 a.m. and make a three-bus trek to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. There, he shined the shoes of staff and visitors and donated all of his tips to the hospital’s young patients. By the time he retired in 2013 he had given $202,000 to the hospital’s Free Care Fund, which provides financial assistance to the under-and-uninsured kids. When he died at the age of 76, hospital president Christopher Gessner said about Albert, “He is the perfect example of how small incremental acts of kindness can impact millions of people.” —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell. The Week, November 2, 2018 p 5 Colossians 3:12 (CSB) “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,” KINDNESS A winter storm that stranded a group of soldiers became an opportunity for an Oklahoma community to show kindness. Hundreds of soldiers returning from holiday break were stuck at the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City because the road to their base in Lawton, 80 miles away, was impassible. When the word got out, families and public officials served up kindness by donating food to care for the soldiers. The stranded troops received comfort food like chicken wings and doughnuts for almost two days until the roads in the area reopened. –Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell http://www.klove.com/news/2019/01/05/Kindness-Served-Up-At-Oklahoma-City-Airport-To-Soldiers-Stranded-By-Winter-Storm/ Colossians 3:12–13 (CSB) “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.” KINDNESS A random act of kindness got a Kansas City man named Dave tickets to the AFC Championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots. Chief’s Offensive linesman Jeff Allen got stuck in the snow on his way to the game with the Indianapolis Colts. Allen said a nice guy named Dave stopped and helped him get back on the road. Allen was grateful, but did not get Dave’s information, so he used social media to help him find the man who helped him. Allen said Dave had no idea he was a football player and hundreds of people replied to his message claiming to be Dave. Allen said he was finally able to find the real Dave and rewarded his kindness with tickets to the AFC Championship. He said he found the right person, “despite the recent influx in people changing their name to Dave in the KC area. Lol.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell https://news.yahoo.com/dave-dave-kansas-city-man-gets-tickets-helping-205259182.html Titus 3:1–2 (CSB)1 Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. KINDNESS Seth Marko owns a bookstore in San Diego. After a medical incident, doctors told him that he needed emergency open-heart surgery. He was not sure what would happen to his store, the Book Catapult. Scott Ehrig-Burgess is the manager of a rival bookstore nearby. Ehrig-Burgess offered to run the Catapult while Marko, 43, was in the hospital. He recruited eight volunteers from other area bookstores to help. For more than a week, Ehrig-Burgess faithfully opened and closed the Catapult and trained the volunteers while also working at his own shop. Marko was very thankful. “It’s pretty incredible,” he said. The Week, March 8, 2019, p. 4 This is a great example of going the extra mile to be kind to another. The New Testament commands us to be kind one to another. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell. Ephesians 4:32 (CSB) “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” KINDNESS Shannon Grimm, a Texas kindergarten teacher noticed that one of her students, Prisilla Perez, had become quiet and sad. Upon investigation, she discovered the little 5-year-old was struggling because her classmates thought her new haircut made her look like a boy. Shannon decided to help, so she had her waist length hair chopped down to a pixie cut and came to school with matching hair bows for her and Prisilla. Everything is different now. Prisilla is a changed person and the attitude of the kids toward her hair is very different. The Week, March 8, 2019, p. 4 The teacher had a great opportunity to show love and kindness to her class and she did not miss the opportunity. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell. Matthew 7:12 (CSB) “Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” KINDNESS Joshua Peninger enjoys being kind to strangers while driving his garbage truck. While running his route recently, Peninger saw two-year-old Charlie Pinion and his mother sitting on their front porch. When Charlie saw the truck, he waved. Peninger honked the horn and waved for Charlie and mother to come to the truck. He gave the little boy a toy garbage can on wheels. His mother Kristen said the boy played with the toy all afternoon and showed it to his father when he got home. Kristen said she was able to track down Peninger’s name to thank him. She said the encounter was brief, but made a huge impact on her son. She said, “Something so small meant so much to us, especially him, which meant something to me.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell. https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/simple-act-of-kindness-from-garbage-truck-driver-brings-joy-to-young-union-county-boy/275-9e4d4d4a-9903-44a1-91c8-c6bb8cbaae9a Galatians 5:22–23 (CSB) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.” KINDNESS In a study of security camera footage, researchers determined that a bystander intervenes to stop a violent attack 90% of the time. This study flies in the face of conventional wisdom that strangers do not help people in need. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/study-of-cctv-footage-debunks-bystander-effect/ Galatians 6:2 (CSB) “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. KINDNESS In 1944 Waclaw Domagala was injured at the Battle of Monte Cassino. Doctors removed his left leg in an Italian military hospital. He never forgot the “angel” who nursed him back to health. She was a young 21-year-old nurse named Maria Kowalaka. Domagala is now in a senior home in southwest England. The home recently received a new resident, 96-year-old Maria Kowalaka. Domagala recognized her instantly, 75 years later. “How could I forget her?’ was Domagala’s comment. The Week, August 16, 2019, p. 5 There are stories of elephants and animals who somehow never forget a human who does an act of kindness for them. Now we know that humans don’t easily forget kindnesses either. –Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell. Hebrews 13:2 (CSB) “Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.” KINDNESS Axel Johnson’s excitement turned into fear quickly as he got on the big yellow bus for the first time to go to kindergarten. He began to cry. Isabel Lane, the bus driver, reached behind her and grabbed the little boy’s hand. Axel’s mother, Amy Johnson, snapped a photo of the bus driver’s kind gesture and later posted it on Social media. Lane chatted with Axel all the way to school, and when she opened the door for him to step off the bus he was no longer crying. Lane told reporters, “I think it kind of goes for anyone—if you see someone maybe struggling, just to do something as simple as reaching out a hand and showing that you are there.” —Jim L. Wilson https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/when-crying-student-boarded-bus-driver-held-his-hand/ Ephesians 4:32 (CSB) And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. KINDNESS The Mind Your Mind Club from Rye Neck High School in New York takes encouragement seriously. They are sending messages to their classmates using Post-it notes. The notes left throughout the school building have messages like, “You are enough,” “Be Brave,” and “Love Yourself.” Junior Lilly Morningstar is president of the club and she thinks the short, yet simple messages resonate with her peers can make a big difference. The Club’s advisor, school psychologist Nicole Crispinelli agreed. “She said school can be stressful for many reasons. She added, “Our hope is that a small and thoughtful message may serve as a reminder to someone to take a deep breath, remember that feelings are temporary, and that they are supported at school by friends and staff.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell https://patch.com/new-york/larchmont/post-it-notes-send-positive-messages-rye-neck-hs-students Proverbs 16:24 (CSB) Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body. KINDNESS When Mark Eklund was in junior high school, Helen Mrosla was his math teacher. One Friday she sensed that the students were frustrated with themselves and edgy with one another. To get a handle on this she asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she had them think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. At the end of the class. She collected the papers. On the weekend she wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday, she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. “I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!” I heard whispered. “I didn’t know others liked me so much!” No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. Years later Mark Eklund’s parents asked her to attend his funeral after he died in Vietnam. At a dinner following the funeral Mark’s father said, “We want to show you something.” Taking a wallet out of his pocket he said, “They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.” Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had been taped, folded, and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark’s classmates had said about him. “Thank you so much for doing that,” Mark’s mother said. “As you can see, Mark treasured it.” Mark’s classmates started to gather around us. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, “I still have my list. It’s in the top drawer of my desk at home.” Chuck’s wife said, “Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.” “I have mine, too,” Marilyn said. “It’s in my diary.” Vicki reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet, and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. “I carry this with me at all times,” she said without batting an eyelash. “I think we all saved our lists.” Mrosla, Helen; The List, Reader’s Digest, September 2019, p. 70-72 It was just a simple attempt at helping some Jr. High students understand one another. It was a simple act of kindness that made a lifetime difference to the ones who received it. We can take many opportunities to show a little kindness to others. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell. Colossians 3:12 (CSB) Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, KINDNESS Instead of hauling the food left over after Super Bowl LIV to a landfill, over 30,000 pounds of food was used to feed the hungry people in South Florida. NFL Green organizers partnered with food recovery charities like Food Rescue US to make sure the uneaten food from Hard Rock Stadium was given to local shelters. The rescued food included uneaten chicken wings, ribs, tenderloin, and other items form VIP booths and concessions stands. The food was expected to feed 20,000 people after it was distributed to locations in the Miami area. Miami Director of Food Rescue US said, “We just want to help people in need. It’s amazing to see how much food there is that otherwise would have been thrown in the trash that can now feed so many people.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/30000-pounds-of-leftover-super-bowl-food-donated-to-charity/ Psalm 107:9 (CSB) For he has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things. KINDNESS Justin Hale, a researcher from VitalSmarts, a leadership training company says, “We've just entered uncharted territory as a workforce, and as our research indicates, many leaders aren’t fully prepared to manage remote teams . . . We need to be flexible with how we work and adjust, while acknowledging it may take a little longer for some people to adapt than it will for others." We must model God’s compassion for others.—Jim L. Wilson https://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/survey-1-in-5-managers-unprepared-to-lead-remote-teams/business-management-services-risk-management Isaiah 54:10 (CSB) Though the mountains move and the hills shake, my love will not be removed from you and my covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says your compassionate Lord. KINDNESS Michael Todd went to a new school where he was the target of taunts and laughter. He did not have new clothes and was feeling very left out. Two of the kids piling on were Garrett and Kristopher Graham, a pair of freshman football players. The Graham brothers began to realize what they were doing was wrong. They hunted through their drawers and closets, found shirts, and pants they could part with and presented them to Michael the next day. He not only got some new clothes, but he has a pair of new friends whom he eats lunch with every day. “I’ve been bullied my entire life,” Todd told CBX News. Reflecting on the day Garrett and Graham gave him the clothes calls it, “The best day of my entire life, basically.” Readers Digest July/August 2020 Kindness is always a good choice. Each of us can keep our eyes out for little, or big acts of kindness. —Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell Ephesians 4:32 (CSB) And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. KINDNESS Nurse Sarah Calvelage is dispensing
more than Meds as she treats patients in the COVID-19
ICU of her Huntsville, Alabama hospital—she is giving
smiles. As you can imagine, it can be hard for patients
to fight the physical effects of the disease, but that
is not their only challenge. The only human interaction
they have is with people wearing masks, gowns and face
shields. They
go weeks, even months without seeing a smile. Nurse Calvelage decided to do
something about it. Using Social Media she asked people
to send things that she could hang on the walls of the
ICU room. People of all ages responded. Adults sent
cards and children drew home drawn pictures. She said,
“We’ve been able to brighten up their rooms of all of
our patients back here and it really has seemed to
improve their mood and lift their spirits quite a bit.”
–Jim L. Wilson https://whnt.com/news/how-to-help-covid-patients-smile/ Colossians 3:12 (CSB) Therefore,
as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience, KINDNESS Ellen DeGeneres is a television host
and comedian who is known for telling people, “Be kind
to one another.” To clarify she recently said, “When I
say, “Be kind to one another,” I don’t mean only the
people that think the same way you do. I mean be kind to
everyone.” Readers Digest, March 2020, p. 19 This is a lesson we could all take to
heart. — Jim Wilson and Rodger Russell 1 Samuel 20:14 (CSB) If I continue to live, show me
kindness from the Lord,
but if I die, Kindness There is a masked crusader on the streets of Santiago, Chile, this summer. But rather than fighting criminals, Solidarity Batman delivers hot meals. It is a challenging time in Chile. Unemployment has reached a record 12 percent. Recently, an unidentified man has been donning a full Batman suit, plus a surgical mask for coronavirus protection, and traveling through the capital city sharing sympathy and plates of food. Anyone can be like him, the everyday superhero says. “Look around you, see if you can dedicate a little time, a little food, a little shelter, a word sometimes of encouragement to those who need it.” Matthew 25:34–35 (CSB) Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. “ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in;
KINDNESS Sam Gifford and a friend were taking senior pictures along the Mississippi River near Minneapolis, when a nearby shout changed their focus. Authorities said an older man hunting for a lost drone had slipped on a trail and slid 60 feet down the embankment towards the river. Gifford asked his friend to contact authorities while he climbed down to the man and kept him calm until help arrived. Gifford said he had lifeguard training in the past which helped with the situation. Rescue crews were able to help both Gifford and the man to safety. Gifford said, “I just kept him talking, making sure that he was comfortable, different things like that. Make sure he wouldn’t slip any further.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” KINDNESS Psalm 145:9 (CSB) The Lord is good to everyone; his compassion rests on all he has made. KINDNESS A Florida couple said they were grateful to a man who found and returned a bag containing a quarter million dollars in lost jewelry. Joe and Elif Fitzgerald had attended a charity event in Florida and had a lot to pick up after the event. They put a bag containing $250,000 worth of jewelry in the back of their car, but the hatch did not close and the bag fell out as they drove home. The couple said they discovered the trunk was open and Elif checked her phone and found dozens of missed calls telling her that a bag belonging to her had been found in the road. The couple said a stranger found the bag and called 911 to make sure it as returned. They said they were surprised by the man’s honesty and plan to reward him for his good deed. Elif said, “I was completely shocked that they returned it. I have valuable jewelry. It’s an amazing feeling knowing there are people out there like that man.” –Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2020/12/09/Christmas-angel-returns-250000-worth-of-jewelry-to-Florida-couple/5451607540077/ Romans 9:15 (CSB) For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. KINDNESS https://www.kfyrtv.com/2021/01/11/project-kindness-bismarck-families-leave-super-tips-spread-kindness/ Hebrews 13:2 (CSB) Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.
KINDNESS In his book, Bezonomics: How Amazon Is Changing Our Lives and What the World's Best Companies Are Learning from It, Brian Dumaine recounts a trip Bezos took with his grandparents when he was 10 years old. He wrote, “His grandmother Mattie was a chain-smoker, and at that time the networks were running a major TV ad campaign to get people to stop smoking—Bezos saw these ads while watching the Days of Our Lives soap opera during afternoons at the ranch. One of the advertisements had a statistic that said every puff of a cigarette takes two minutes off your life. One day during the trip, while sitting in the backseat of his grandparents’ car, he calculated how much time Mattie had taken off her life. When he was finished with his arithmetic, he proudly announced to her how many years she’d lost but got a reaction he didn’t expect. She burst into tears. His grandfather stopped the car and took Bezos out of the backseat. He had no idea what was about to happen because Pop Gise had never before said a cross word to him. Recalls Bezos: “I thought he might actually be angry with me, but he wasn’t. He said these incredible words, ‘You’re going to find out one day that it’s harder to be kind than clever.’” --Bezonomics, pg. 36. Proverbs 11:17 (CSB) A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel person brings ruin on himself. KINDNESS Restaurant owner Robert Magiet has found a unique way to help other small food vendors on the coldest Chicago days. Magiet stops at the vendor’s carts and buys their entire inventory for the day which allows the vendors to make their daily wages and also go home and stay warm. On average, he buys 15 dozen tamales for $16 a dozen and said many vendors are in disbelief when he stops because they do not understand why someone would want to buy so many tamales at once. After he buys the food, Magiet donates it to community food banks and shelters to help those in need and the homeless. Magiet encourages others to help those in need any way they can. He added, “All it takes is one act of kindness and others will notice and join in. Together, we can all make a huge difference in other’s lives. It’s never been more important to support each other.” –Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/10/us/iyw-chicago-tamales-feed-homeless-trnd/index.html Luke 10:36–37 (CSB) “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.” KINDNESS Mandy Gorton, the owner of Roots
Café in Naples, New York received a card from one of
her regular customers a couple of weeks after indoor
dining was shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions. She
said, “It was a beautiful card expressing their
concern for us being able to survive the shutdown and
their wish to help in some way. In the card was a
check for $1,000 made out to me personally. I
immediately burst into tears.” The note gave her the courage to go
forward. She divided the money among her
staff and developed a plan for surviving the pandemic. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/covid-restaurants-good-stories_l_6058f105c5b6cebf58d0a7e1 Ephesians 4:32 (CSB) And be kind and compassionate to
one another, forgiving one another, just as God also
forgave you in Christ. KINDNESS During the height of
pandemic, Zohaib Begg undertook a mission to gather
personal protective equipment for frontline workers.
Then, the self-proclaimed “Chief Kindness Officer”
decided he needed to do more to help his community so
he contacted area business asking for help putting
together boxes
containing food, toiletry kits and supplies to people
in need. He
hoped to reach at least 1,000 homeless people for
Global Youth Service Day which highlights the actions
of people aged 5 to 25. The Virginia boy said he plans
to continue to help because giving to others makes him
happy. He said, “I believe in spreading kindness and
all my donors and partners for this event share this
vision and also believe that no one is too young to
make a difference.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/zohaib-begg-washington-dc-homeless-kits/ Proverbs 19:17 (CSB) Kindness to
the poor is a loan to the Lord, and he will
give a reward to the lender. KINDNESS When Fairfield, CA
police responded to a report of an automobile crash
they arrested the impaired driver. But the story
doesn’t end there. It was Mother’s Day and the driver
was in the process of delivering flowers. So, the
officers made the rest of the deliveries that the
driver could not make. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/fairfield-police-deliver-mothers-day-flowers-after-driver-arrested-for-dui/2540322/ Proverbs 21:21 (CSB) The one who
pursues righteousness and faithful love will find
life, righteousness, and honor. KINDNESS
2020 was a
difficult year for most people, but some good has
emerged from the pandemic. A survey conducted by
OnePoll of 2005 Americans found that since the
lockdown that began in March of 2020, “seventy-two
percent said they found themselves caring about the
health and well-being of others significantly more in
the past year.”
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/7-in-10-say-2020-made-them-more-selfless/
2 Peter 1:7 (CSB) godliness
with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with
love. Man gives half of
his reward to child he rescued. KINDNESS Elizabeth
and Jake Landuyt felt their wedding was like a dream
come true. The ceremony was perfect and things were
going according to plan, until the cottage next to
their reception venue on Mackinac Island in Michigan
caught fire. They
had to evacuate and the only thing they could think of
was walk back to the church where the ceremony had
been held and to pray. While they were praying
residents of the small town went to work. The chef at
the venue took all 120 meals and told the staff to
take them to a nearby restaurant where they could
finish preparing them. They served the meals at a
resort on the island that had extra space available
that day. Since there are no cars on the island,
volunteers helped move everything to the new venues by
hand. In less than an hour, the reception was back on
track. Reflecting on the experience, Jake said, “To
have them pick up the reception out of the ashes, in a
very literal sense, made the wedding better than we
ever could have imagined and one that, while we don’t
necessarily recommend, it’s a day and an experience
that we’ll cherish forever.”—Jim L. Wilson and Jim
Sandell https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mackinac-island-michigan-wedding-reception-fire/ Proverbs 14:21 (CSB) The
one who despises his neighbor sins, but
whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy. KINDNESS The
management of the Atlanta Ikea store claimed they were
trying to honor their black employees when they
created a special Juneteenth menu of “fried chicken,
watermelon, mac and cheese and collard greens.” “It
caused a lot of people to be upset,” one employee
said, “People actually wanted to quit. People weren't
coming back to work," https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ikea-juneteenth-menu-atlanta-black-employees/ 1 Peter 4:8 (CSB) Above
all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a
multitude of sins.
KINDNESS When Matthew Van De Riet found
himself at the scene of an auto accident on a remote
stretch of Canadian highway, he went above and beyond
the call to help. When he a distressed looking dog
beside the road, Van De Riet stopped to investigate
and discovered the wrecked car and with two people
inside and another dog that had been throw from the
vehicle when it crashed.
He called emergency services, and when the
woman was transported to a hospital from treatment, he
loaded the couple’s belongings in his truck and drove
the husband to the hospital to be with her. He also
cared for the couple’s dogs and had them checked a
local vet. Van De Riet said he figured the least he
could do was care for the animals until their owners
were able to pick them up. He said he felt he was
doing nothing more than helping a couple of strangers
in need. When asked about his heroic acts, Van De Riet
said, “It was the least I could do. I would expect
anyone in this province to do the same thing if they
were in my shoes. It just happened to be that I was
the one that was there first, I guess.”—Jim L. Wilson
and Jim Sandell https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/stranger-takes-in-2-dogs-after-car-accident-matthew-van-de-riet Matthew 5:41 (CSB)
And if anyone forces you to go one
mile, go with him two.
KINDNESS Jamaican hurdler Hansel Parchment
may not have won a gold medal in Tokyo, if a stranger
had not intervened. Parchment took the wrong bus on
the day of his event. He was listening to music, when
he looked up and realized the bus was going the wrong
way and he had no idea where he was. In a social media
video, Parchment explained that he was running out of
time to find a bus to get him to the event in time, he
met a stranger who paid his taxi fare to get him to
the venue. Parchment arrived in time to warm
up before the race and then in competition he set his
best time of the season and won a gold medal.
Afterward, parchment was determined to find and thank
the person who helped him. He goes on the wrong bus
deliberately and found his benefactor. In a video, he
is seen approaching the woman, pulling out his medal,
and thanking her for her kindness. Parchment also
showed his gratitude by giving the woman a Jamaican
Olympic polo shirt and repaying the money she had
given him. —Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/11/hansle-parchment-jamaican-hurdles-tokyo-2020-volunteer-taxi-money Galatians 5:22–23 (CSB) But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is
not against such things. KINDNESS In a recent survey of 2000 Moms and
their children, the kids listed the following as
something a “Cool Mom” will not do: ·
“Using their home nickname in front
of their friends (42%),” ·
“Shouting their name at a sports
game or other event (40%),” ·
“And
dancing in public (40%).” In short, the kids say “Cool Moms”
won’t embarrass them in front of their friends. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/snack-time-hacks-make-you-a-cool-mom/ Ephesians 4:32 (CSB) And be kind and compassionate to
one another, forgiving one another, just as God also
forgave you in Christ. KINDNESS Michigan
firefighter Brandon Mulvaney was one of several
firefighters who received a late-night
call about an animal trapped in a storm drain. When
they arrived, they found a
small kitten trapped below ground. Mulvaney climbed
down a maintenance hole to
reach the pipe with the trapped cat. He called and
waited, and after a few
minutes the kitten peeked out of the pipe and Mulvaney
grabbed it. He took the
cat to the surface and handed it off to an animal
control officer. After that
Mulvaney keep checking on the kitten’s progress and
decided to adopt him
because he wanted the animal to have a better life. He and his
family brought the cat home and
named him Huntley after one of the roads where the cat
was rescued. Mulvaney
reported that the cat was adjusting well to being a
member of the family. –Jim
L. Wilson and Jim Sandell https://people.com/pets/michigan-firefighter-adopts-kitten-he-rescued/?fbclid=IwAR1NFlHBXLFpAi2dy-rhv7Wv2mSuf-ngLA0-MaZeHpKaNW1durm4y6mF_nk Deuteronomy 10:15
(CSB) Yet the Lord had his
heart set on your ancestors
and loved them. He chose their descendants after
them—he chose you out of all
the peoples, as it is today. |
