Kindness

Bob and I were talking about old times the other night while we were watching the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Game. After all these years he was surprised to learn that I played basketball in high school, and even more surprised to learn that I tore the ligaments in my knee and ended up in a cast and on crutches for six weeks.

In 1962 we had no backpacks. We carried all our books and binders in our arms from home, from class to class, and back home again. That is not something you can do on crutches.

The semester this happened, I had been chosen by my typing teacher to teach typing to a class of students with disabilities. The idea was that it would improve eye-to-hand coordination. Their classroom was in the back of the school in a portable known as H3.

Kids can be cruel and those who were seen entering H3 were immediately labeled with labels no one should ever wear. Most of my “friends” at the time joined in.

On my first day back at school on crutches, it wasn’t my friends who met me at the bus, but one of my “H3” typing students, grabbing my books and escorting me to my class. At the end of class, another met me and escorted me to the next class. That happened every period. At the end of school, the last one carried my books to the bus.

For six weeks, these kids carried out the same self-assigned tasks. After 62 years I seldom think about my “friends,” but I’ll never forget the kindness shown me by my “H3” typing class. Amazing how long a simple kindness is remembered.

“Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” [Colossians 3:12 HCSB]

On my personal Facebook page, I daily post an inspiration quote that I recorded decades ago in journals that I called “JoyBooks.” Recently, I posted one from Aldous Huxley. “People often ask me, what is the most effective technique for transforming their life? It is a little embarrassing that after years and years of research and experimentation, I have to say that the best answer is – just be a little kinder.”

Huxley was an English writer and philosopher. While I don’t necessarily agree with his lifestyle or life philosophy, I agree that we need more kindness. It is sorely lacking in our culture today.

As Christians, we had our life transformed by salvation in Christ Jesus. Paul reminds us that first “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.” [Colossians 1:13 HCSB]

We have been moved from darkness into the Kingdom of God – that is a finished work in Christ. But the transformation of our lives is also something that continues in us while we walk in this world.  “We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” [2 Corinthians 3:18 HCSB]

And part of that transformation is the active putting on, clothing ourselves with the characteristics of Christ Jesus,

“Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” [Colossians 3:12 HCSB]

Kindness. While kindness is sorely lacking in our world, in our politicians, corporations, media and sometimes even in our neighborhoods, it should never be sorely lacking in the life of a Christian. We are to be kind.

I’ve been thinking about my friend Nella today.  Nella was actually my mother’s friend.  They were as different as two people could be.  Nella over six foot, my mother under five.  My mother was brash, self-involved, and difficult to love.  Nella was soft spoken, doted on others and easy to love.  I can still hear her say, “Oh, sweetie,” followed by her smile or gentle laugh or a loving pat on the cheek.

I remember when my first child was born more than 52 years ago.  First time mom, I was stuck at home for about 10 weeks since Bob took our one vehicle to work.  I didn’t have a lot of friends, and my one close friend had given birth to her first child about a week before me.  She too was home.

I was feeling very blue one day, crying a lot, tired, trying to adjust to my suddenly changed lifestyle when the doorbell rang.  Standing on my welcome mat was a very welcome sight, Nella.  I can still hear her words, “Hey, kiddo, thought you might be lonely so pack up that baby and let’s go for a ride.”

So, I packed up the baby and we went for a ride.  Nella’s kindness that day broke the baby blues, and they never came back.

Whenever I read the verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:15, ” …always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else,” I immediately think of Nella.  She lived this verse.

One small act of kindness more than 52 years ago, and it is as alive today as it was then.  I don’t think Nella ever knew how much that afternoon ride meant to me, but one of these days I’ll have a chance to tell her.