Why We’re Kind Anyway

Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

“Marie, it’s time for bed,” her mom said, pausing at the door.

Seated at the small table, Marie didn’t even look up. She remained intent on the project in front of her, working steadily. “I know, Mom. I’m almost done.”

It was the night before the last day of school, and Marie was making twenty personalized cards for her classmates. Finally satisfied with how they turned out, Marie licked the last envelope closed and carefully slid the cards into a plastic bag in her backpack. She couldn’t wait to give them out.

But things didn’t turn out the way Marie had expected. As she shrugged out of her backpack after school the next day, her mom called her over to ask how the school day went.

“Pretty well,” Marie said, biting her lip.

Her mom waited, listening.

“Some of the kids ripped my cards into shreds, and some made them into paper airplanes that they threw across the room,” Marie admitted.

“I’m sorry,” her mom said, drawing her into a hug. “What did your friends do?”

“Well, they kept them.” Marie smiled. “I guess that’s what matters.”

It hurts when we try to do a kind act for someone and they reject it. The truth is, we can control our own actions, but we can’t control someone else’s response. Not everyone is going to accept our attempt to be their friend, but we can still choose to be friendly to everyone.

Jesus demonstrated kindness to all people, whether they were kind to him or not. When we choose to be kind, we reflect the love of Jesus to the world. Yet even as we choose kindness, we recognize that not everyone will be a friend in return. The times when it is reciprocated simply makes us all the more grateful for the friends who do show us love and acceptance.

Things to Think About

• Have you ever had someone respond in an unkind way when you were trying to be a friend? How did you react?
• Knowing what you know about Jesus and his example, how might you respond next time?

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Create something to give to a friend. You could make her a bracelet or scrunchie or bake something like banana bread or brownies.