A LESSON OF KINDNESS

“Kind” is defined as being of a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature.

"Kindness" is defined as the act of being kind.

There are many times in my life that I am taught by example.  You know the saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words” so actually I find that by watching and learning, I have experienced more lessons watching than any other way.  Such was the case this past Sunday afternoon at the church egg hunt.

I found the day to be beautiful, especially for hunting eggs and taking photos.  The lesson came after most all the eggs had been found.  I was standing around the center of the large field that was empty of the eggs that had been all around a few minutes earlier.  I was snapping photos with my large lens and having a good time when I noticed three siblings coming into the area.  These were blonde haired children, two sisters and a brother.  I asked if I could take a picture of them and, of course, as most children in our church do when they see me with my camera, they posed.  Nicely.  

After the photo had been taken, I just stood and watched and listened.  The Brother said to The Little Sister, “Wanna go find some eggs?”  She looked up at him, smiling and nodding.  Okay, so my pessimistic adult mind is thinking, “All these hundreds of eggs have been found.  Good luck.”

The Big Sister, The Brother, and The Little Sister started walking.  The Little Sister walked along with her siblings most willingly, a look of anticipation on her face.  I watched as they made their way towards the hill at the playground with The Brother leading the way.  

The Brother headed off to the right.

 The Big Sister climbed the hill.  The Little Sister started up the hill.  

As The Little Sister was near the top of the hill, I noticed The Brother coming back with an egg.  Imagine.  He is some egg hunter, isn’t he?    The Brother called The Little Sister’s name and she turned around.  The Brother was laying the egg he found on the ground and said, “Look, here’s an egg for you to find!”  The Little Sister, of course, happily went and “found” the egg. 

It was one of those times when my heart and my face both smiled widely.  How could one not smile?  Awww……KINDNESS.  The Brother and The Little Sister then joined hands and headed off to "find more eggs".

As I usually do when seeing such a lesson, I analyze my own life and wonder why I’m not like that.  I resolve then to try harder to be that kind of person with that kind of kindness.  Not expecting anything in return.   Not looking for recognition.  Just simply being kind because that’s what you do. 

I’m thinking that this kind of kindness is a positive nature to The Brother.  Now for sure he has his days of misbehaving, complaining, and other such actions that require discipline.  I have yet to see a perfect child.  Or a perfect adult.  Or a perfect one "in the middle".  Deep down, though, I have a big hope that The Brother's adult life will be a life of kindness also.  Can you imagine nurturing such a positive nature and the benefits he can share from it as an adult?  Can you imagine what WE can share if we exercise this quality as adults?  I know I want to work on it harder but I was truly blessed just from watching this interaction on Sunday.  

 

From one of my favorite Bible chapters for living, Colossians 3:

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering….”

And lest you doubt it, be assured that God speaks loudly through the lives of children.   

Listen.