Does it seem to you that people don’t show kindness like they used to? Do people hold the doors for you when you have your arms full? Will they yield to you when you are having to wait a long time to enter traffic? Do you get a “thank you” wave when you slow down to let someone enter your lane ahead of you? When you smile and speak to others, do they return the gesture?
Are we as kind as we were in years past? Have we become so absorbed in our own lives that we don’t have a minute to show a little kindness, a little tenderness? Or is it now just all about me? Me. Me. Me.
How much does it really cost to share a smile? You never know what someone around you is going through. Could a smile, a kind word, a helping hand make a difference in their day? What about in your day? Yes. And yes.
“Use your smile to change the world; don’t let the world change your smile.” – Unknown
Author Ron Gutman cites research that revealed that one single smile can provide the same level of brain stimulation as 2,000 chocolate candy bars. And who doesn’t love candy bars, right?!?
A Penn State University study determined that when we smile, others see us as more likeable, courteous and competent. In recent research, scientists concluded that smiling can be as stimulating as receiving up to 16,000 Pounds Sterling in cash.
Kindness is contagious. When someone is kind to us, it makes us happier. And, like this plate I found thrifting last week says, “Whoever is happy will make others happy, too.” Simple, right? Try a little tenderness.
The Bible shares a wonderful story about kindness and tenderness in Luke 10:30-37, The Parable of the Good Samaritan.
30 … Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Try a little tenderness.
There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart. –Jane Austen
In Luke 10:27, Jesus directs us, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Next opportunity, and God gives us those all the time, show kindness, share a smile, try a little tenderness. You never know, you might just be the one who gets the greatest benefit from it. The blessing you receive could even be better than 2,000 candy bars and 16,000 Pounds Sterling in cash.
Dear Lord: Thank you for your loving kindness toward us, in that while we were still sinners, You sent Your Son Jesus to die for us. Help us to follow the example of Jesus by showing love and compassion to others. We never know what someone is going through and how the simplest act of kindness can be life-changing for them and for us. Thank You for divine appointments. Help us not to miss those, Lord. Use us to show Jesus to the World. Help us to remember that He works for whatever any of us are going through in every circumstance. Amen
Colossians 3:12-13-Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
I welcome your comments, experiences and encouragement for our readers. Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost today. May we help each other along this journey of life by showing a little loving kindness and tenderness today.
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” -Amelia Earhardt