Random acts of kindness

I love the month of February. Transitioning my home from Christmas, winter and snowflakes, to all things pink hearts and love, I wonder why I am so fond of this commercialized holiday? I think it reminds me of God’s love for us. The same love we are to have for one another.

1 John 4 tells us, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

“Let us love one another, for love is from God.”

¹³ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ¹⁶ So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ¹⁷ By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. ¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. 

Random acts of kindness are one way we can show love for each other. God gave us the most random act of kindness ever to be given. It only seems fitting that we would return the favor as often as we can.

Last week, one of my subscribers reached out to me to say that she loves my Random Acts of Kindness page and she had actually volunteered with one of the non-profits I listed. Whether she knew it or not, she offered me an act of kindness through her encouraging words.

I think I have told you about an elderly gentleman I help. In reality, he helps me. Every month, when he receives his social security check, he goes out and buys a small piece of luggage on wheels. I pick it up and deliver it for him to Caring Services, a local recovery and housing non-profit organization.

Disturbed by the thought of these displaced women, carrying the little bit of belongings they have left in a black trash bag, he gives this gift. This way, they can carry their stuff with a little dignity until they get back on their feet. His random act of kindness has become not so random since we have been delivering suitcases for the last 24 months. His impact is changing lives. I know for a fact it has changed mine!

Random acts of kindness can change the world. 

We all can do some small act of kindness with whatever we have. These acts, be it paying for the coffee of the person behind you, donating your excess blankets to a homeless shelter, or holding the door for the slow walking person when you are in a big hurry, these things make a difference.

I never thought much about the February 14th holiday sandwiched between Christmas and Easter. But today I have a new perspective. February is our month of love as it should be. Love came down on December 25th and by the time we get to Easter, we know what LOVE really looks like. Shouldn’t we want to shower the world with this LOVE?

1 John 3:16  reads, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Let us pray;

Dear Lord, thank you for showing us the perfect example of true love. Give us the courage to show others this same love. Whether random acts of kindness, or deliberate actions, let us be a an example of Your love to all we come in contact with. In your precious name, Amen.

P.S. Leave me a comment below and tell me about your random acts of kindness. Forward this message to a friend and ask them to subscribe. Share on Facebook and tag me in it. Until next time, let’s flood the world with random acts of kindness. -M