Xanthe Galanis

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Galatians 5:22

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realising that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?  Romans 2:4

Kindness and goodness are both hard to come by in today's society. Often people are nice, but kindness isn’t necessarily the same as being nice; one can be kind and not nice. If you look up ‘nice’ in the dictionary you’ll see words like please, enjoyable or attractive. In contrast, kindness is doing something good and not expecting anything in return. Kindness is respect and helping others without waiting for someone to help one back.

We are to show this kindness to others because it’s exactly the kindness God showed us. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. Romans tells us that God's kindness is meant to cause us to change. Some translations use the word goodness here. God shows us kindness when we have done nothing to merit it. We cannot justify ourselves before a holy God, not with our penance, or our performance, or our sacrifice. When we are confronted with God’s amazing grace and fully realise that we are recipients of the most undeserved mercy, we are humbled. And when we truly understand how the God who made the world gives every good gift to us, we try to live a life that is pleasing to him and to reflect his kindness and to those around us.

Prayer: Father God, Thank you for the goodness and kindness that you have shown to me and how it leads me into repentance and into my relationship with you. Help me to be quick to offer grace, rather than judgment. Help me to be quick to listen and slow to speak so that your kindness will draw others to you through me. Amen