“He is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin.”
Luke 6:35
Do you ever become discouraged or maybe even a little annoyed when someone doesn’t say thank you for a good deed done? A kindness showed? God doesn’t, and how many times have we forgotten to thank God for a kindness shown to us?
“In the original language, the word for kindness carries an added idea the English word does not. Chiefly it refers to an act of grace. But it also refers to a deed or person who is ‘useful, serviceable, adapted to its purpose.’ Kindness was even employed to describe food that was tasty as well as healthy. Sounds odd to our ears. But the usage makes sense. Isn’t kindness good AND good for you? Pleasant and practical?”
And you know what? Even if your kindness isn’t acknowledged it’s ok. God sees it and isn’t He really the only one that matters anyway?
People do matter and an act of simple kindess can plant a seed of hope. On spiritual level, acts of kindness benefit the giver as well. Kind or charitable acts enable us to leave ego behind and draw us in love towards the Lord.
Some reflections by St. Therese of Liseux, the Little Flower.
“On the day of my conversion Charity entered into my heart and with it a yearning to forget self always; thenceforward I was happy.”
“Jesus wills that we give alms to Him as to one poor and needy. He puts Himself as it were at our mercy; He will take nothing but what we give Him from our heart, and the very least trifle is precious in His sight. He stretches forth His Hand, this sweet Saviour, to receive of us a little love, so that in the radiant Day of Judgment He may be able to address to us those ineffable words: “Come, ye blessed of my Father; for I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; sick and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.”
(Matthew 25:34-36).”
“I ought to seek the company of those Sisters who according to nature please me least. I ought to fulfill in their regard the office of the Good Samaritan. A word, a kindly smile, will often suffice to gladden a wounded and sorrowful heart.”
“O Jesus! since this sweet flame consumes it I run with delight in the way of Thy new Commandment, and therein will I run until the blessed day when with Thy Virgin train I shall follow Thee through Thy boundless Realm singing Thy New Canticle which must surely be the Canticle of LOVE.”