But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other. Galatians 5:22-25
It was a day that I have trouble remembering all of. There are gaps as I think back on it, I guess not unusual for most. I remember how dreary and damp the day was. It was a chill that seeped into your bones and settled in the joints. No matter how much you wore or how close you dared to get to the heater, you just couldn’t feel the warmth. Another thing that I remember was all the umbrellas with solemn faces in the drizzle. They were spread out between the markers a respectable distance from the tent where my family was seated. The sky behind them so gray it looked like a wall. No horizon just a cold wall of gray that encircled the whole cemetery. I have flash memories of the music, the preacher reading a passage and the flowers on the casket flutter with each gust of wind.
Not much more.
There is one thing that I remember vividly, and I hold to it. as the As the procession of solemn faced people passed by us to shake our hands and give precious hugs, they all had one thing that was common to their message to us.
“Your father was probably the kindest man I ever met.”
“You father was so kind to me.”
What a beautiful legacy to leave this world. Kindness. This world is short on kindness these days. As a Christian we should be freely sharing kindness with those we come in contact with daily. Kindness is in deficit because we are not demonstrating it.
Kindness goes a long way. It touches people. It gives them hope. It lingers in their hearts. That was evident by all the people that came to stand in the cold drizzle to share how my father’s kindness and charity touched their lives.
Adopt kindness as a habit in your walk. Once it becomes a habit, you won’t have to think about it, you will simply be kind to others.
Typist for Jesus
Mustard Seeds 