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"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
(Ephesians 4:31-32)
Some of our Boomer and Builder generation will remember the singer and actor Glen Campbell. You can probably sing along with me his hit song "Rhinestone Cowboy". A classic and favorite of many was True Grit, starring John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn, Glen Campbell as La Boeuf, and Kim Darby as Mattie Ross. It is a classic western film created in 1969.
But for me, Campbell was more a singer than he was an actor, and one of my favorite songs he recorded was "Try a Little Kindness", released in 1970. Some of the lyrics read:
You've got to try a little kindness
Yes, show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets
Don't walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way
Kindness is in short supply today. Many are so stressed over COVID and political upheavals that they are a bit rude. But a Christian, as Dr. Jerry Vines said, "never has the right to be unkind." I agree. In fact, if anyone in the world should show a little kindness, it is the child of God. As Paul writes in our biblical text for today's devotion, we are to be kind and tenderhearted. The Greek word translated "kind" is chrestos, which means good, kind, better, and gracious. The word translated "tenderhearted" is eusplagchnos, which means compassionate. It is the same root word used to describe the kindest person to ever live on this earth, Jesus Christ. This Greek word is translated "compassion" in Matthew 9:36: "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd."
Kindness starts in the heart and manifests itself in good words and actions. We can all do a little better in being kind. Two of the most kindhearted people I have ever known are Jan Balance and Kathy Spencer. Jan was my administrative assistant when I served as pastor at the FBC Lavaca, AR. Her husband Pete told me one time, "That is simply the way she is, and I know because I live with her." So cool! And our family has a phrase that goes like this: "Kathy Spencer kindness." What a wonderful way to be known—for being kind.
Pray and ask the Lord to help you today to show a little kindness and help someone along their way.
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