For many who have seen this painting, this is a depiction of Jesus, but for me, this is a painting of Zac, my son's friend. As far as kindness is concerned, compassion and unconditional love, Jesus for many embodied them all, which is my reason for choosing this image, but if you have other images/representations that rings more true with you, please feel free to disregard this image....Maybe we begin with a definition of "kindness"..According to Wikipedia, "Kindness is the act or state of being kind, being marked by good, and charitable behaviour, pleasant disposition and concern for others." Interesting to note is the fact that not only the receiver benefits from an act of kindness, but also the giver. Research has established that neurotransmitters are released when we are kind to others; the giver receives feelings of contentment and relaxation in return for being charitable. At this point the question is often asked if it is at all possible for a human to perform a genuinely selfless act, and although it is an interesting question, let's leave that philosophical quandary for the moment and just focus on kindness.
There often seems to be an element of surprise attached to kindnesses; an unexpected turn of events. A woman is trudging up hill with a bag in each hand, her steps are heavy and her breathing laboured. On the top of the hill she sees two young men dressed in denims and hooded sweatshirts involved in what seems like heated discussion. She is too tired to worry, she just wants to get home, get the dinner going and sit down. As she comes closer to the young men, they stop speaking and suddenly start walking towards her. "There goes my purse" she mutters under her breath but keep on walking.
"Hey Lady, you want some help with those things?" one of the hooded young men asks.
Random acts of kindness can make a bad day good, a discouraged heart full of encouragement, a broken spirit renewed, disbelief turned into belief and hope lost, can become hope found.
Everyday there are opportunities in our lives to become the bringers of "random acts of kindnesses".
Everywhere we find ourselves, there are opportunities for sharing a bit of kindness. There are animals in animal shelters needing homes, children in orpanhages needing families and safe, loving homes, there are homeless needing living quarters, there is our environment in need of us not to violate it,
and we all can to with a kind word every now and then.
During the lunch break, Adrian always eats alone. His classmates thinks he's a bit strange, he certainly dresses oddly. Adrian hardly ever say a word and when he does, he speaks so quietly no one can understand him. Rory is liked by everyone, he never eats alone. Rory watches Adrian as he sits quietly on the bench with his head hung down. A ball out of nowhere suddenly hits Adrian in the head and he drops his lunch on the ground, his juice a wet circle in the sand. Rory grabs his drink out of his lunch bag and walks over to Adrian; "Hey man, have my drink, I'm not thirsty".
Maybe we begin in our own homes? How often do we say something kind to our loved ones? Are we more quick to say something of a criticising nature than encouraging? How often do we take the time to just do something nice for someone we care about?
"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love". Lao Tzu
On his way home from work, Dennis hears the faint meowing from behind a dumpster. It's drizzling and Dennis has paperwork to do when he gets home, but the sound of distress from the animal halts Dennis steps. He walks up to the dumpster and finds a wet, shivering, and miserable looking kitten gazing up at him. Gently he lifts the kitten and wraps his coat around it.
If both the receiver and giver of kindness benefits; our neurotransmitters swishing about and making us feel good; one may wonder why we don't perform random acts of kindnesses every hour and minute of the day, since it appears to be a win-win situation?
Audrey Hepburn: "For beautiful eyes, look for good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."
Are you feeling a bit glum, maybe a bit down, try a little kindness.......your neurotransmitters will love it.
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