This morning I received a call from my friend, Muriel, with whom I share a ministry.  She was voluntarily assisting another friend, Alison, with a technology issue so that Alison could participate in future Zoom meetings of the ministry.  This pandemic has created all kinds of challenges for people of every age and background!

Muriel didn’t have to do that.  No one asked Muriel to take time from her life to drive 30 minutes and explain the new process to Alison.  Muriel did that of her own free will and because she is one of the kindest, most thoughtful persons that I know.

I have experienced her kindness.  She is the one who calls when she hears that you are sick.  She genuinely cares about her fellow travelers and practices kindness in many ways.  She lives her faith.

As a child, I loved reading the tales of Hans Christian Anderson and the Grimm Brothers.  One of my favorites was the tale of Cinderella.  Recently, I watched the new Disney version featuring Lily James as Cinderella.  The theme of this movie, beautifully recited by James, is “Have courage and be kind.” 

Cinderella repeats and maintains this mantra throughout the movie, in the face of some very nasty experiences.  Experiences that would cause me to lose every vestige of dignity that I have and tell my stepmother and sisters just what I thought of them in no uncertain terms.  However, she keeps remembering the words that her mother gave her as a parting gift-have courage and be kind.

Is there a cost to being kind?  That answer lies in the soul of the individual who decides to follow the example of Jesus Christ, the ultimate example of kindness, or to not follow.  Christ showed us the benefits of kindness in the joy of a resurrected Lazarus (John 11:1-44), the excitement of the little man in the tree (Zaccheus) (Luke 19:1-28) and amazement of the Centurion whose servant was healed (Matt 8:5-13).  There are so many wonderful examples of kindness expressed throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

I believe there is NO cost to kindness.  There are only benefits to both the giver and the receiver.  Yes, kindness often requires courage.  Courage to take a stand in the face of popular opinion or group actions.  However, following the example of the God who loves you unconditionally will never bring you to harm and will always settle of a feeling of a job well done in your soul.

Terri