Did you know that last Friday, November 13th, was World Kindness Day? When I first heard it mentioned I thought it was something the radio station had made up. But I looked it up. Sure enough, since 1998 that day, November 13th, has been celebrated unofficially in countries all around the world. From Australia to Nigeria, Italy to India, Canada to Singapore, the day is meant to be an observed as a day of good deeds and random acts of kindness. There are apparently even “kindness cards.”
I have to admit, when I heard about World Kindness Day I was, at once, excited and dismayed. I was excited that people would celebrate such a positive event. The thought of an international movement that promotes and encourages such expressions of love and caring sounded wonderful. But I began to think. One day? Are we really to be intentionally kind to one another only one day a year? And have we, as human beings, gotten to the point where we need a movement and a designated day to remind us to be kind?
I can't speak for the whole world. But for those of us who claim the name of Christ, everyday should be kindness day. Every day we should be praying that God would open doors of opportunity for us to express the love and kindness of Jesus to friends and strangers alike. In Ephesians 4:32 the apostle Paul writes “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
I actually think it is great that there is a world kindness movement. But as Christ followers, we don't need an international organization to remind us to be kind. We have the Word of God to guide us and the spirit of God within us. And we definitely don't have to wait until next November 13th to express intentional acts of kindness.
Let's just agree that for those of us who profess Jesus Christ as the leader of our lives and the forgiveness of our sins, everyday is kindness day. Let every day be an opportunity to reflect the love of Christ. Let it become common knowledge in our communities, and throughout the world, that Christians seek (to the very best of our ability) to be kind 24/7/365. Let us set the standard for all the world to follow of what it is to be people of kindness. And in so doing, may we point many to Christ.
Have a blessed week. I look forward to us all being together in worship this Sunday either in-person or online.
In the kindness of Christ,
Pastor Steve