Not so long ago I saw a movie about a doctor in a rural town that was honored by the people he had come in contact with over his years of service. The doctor was retiring and on his last day the people came to his home bearing food, drink, and a congratulatory moment for his unselfish service to all of them and to his contributions to the community.
This general practitioner was not only a good doctor and treated his patients well, but he was a good person with a big heart and cared not only for their medical needs but for their other needs as well.
There are many people in the world today that are the same as this doctor. They display a willingness to help anyone at any time and their kindness exudes from them at all times. People tend to flock to them because of the goodness in their heart. Anita Roddick said it best when she penned the words, “The end result of kindness is that it draws people to you.”
Most of us equate kindness to being nice or pleasant. We tend to smile and get along with our adversaries without ruffling feathers. However we are told what kindness really is through the pages of the Bible.
In Galatians 5:22 we are told that kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit. The generosity that comes from our heart toward others, even when they don’t deserve it, displays our level of kindness. Jesus displayed this type of kindness and told us to love our enemies. On occasions kindness may not be pleasant when the truth is told. Psalm 141:5 tells us, “Let a righteous man strike me, it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.”
There are many people that have to be bearers of bad news. True Christian friends will tell you the truth even if it hurts but they will do it in a kind way. The way we receive the news is up to us.
I am sure that all doctors have to tell some of their patients unpleasant news of diagnosis. Unless they are strictly heartless physicians they must stress over the fact they are telling someone they have an incurable disease that will likely cut their life short. In the movie I was watching this doctor didn’t relate any sad dilemmas to any of his patients; however it did show his love for all he came into contact with.
Kindness comes from what is inside your heart and it doesn’t hurt you to display kind feelings toward anyone. How they receive them is up to them!
As the movie ends one of the oldest ladies at the table stated: “There is nothing more valuable than kindness; a little bit can change a whole day, a whole year, a whole life.” How is your demeanor? Do you have love for everyone around you, even those that don’t agree with you?
