I often listen to the Christian radio station Air1. One of the DJs frequently says, “The world is full of nice people, but if you can’t find one, then be one.”
That saying reminds me of a co-worker I had years ago. One day she asked if I thought the tellers at the credit union were rude. I told her I had never experienced that. But in my mind, I suspected why she had. She was often rude herself, and I’m sure the tellers responded in kind. It wasn’t her only conflict—she was even banned from going inside her car repair shop’s office. She was outraged.
Kindness is not always easy. I think about situations at the grocery store—aisles blocked, people standing right in front of what I need, long lines at the checkout. I try to make a special effort to be kind to the cashiers, who often face impatient or rude customers. Sometimes I realize I’ve been distracted and hardly acknowledged them until they ask if I need bags. I’m working on remembering to look them in the eye and wish them a blessed day.
Jesus certainly models kindness towards us. And Paul reminds us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).