Be Kind, Be Kind, Be Kind

Henry James famously instructed his nephew Willie in 1902, “Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.”

Many days our world seems quick, thoughtless, and even ruthless. For us, it’s easy to get lost in the workaday race of getting lots of task completed, eyeballing the computer for hours on end, or catching that important email or text on our phone. Some folks even wonder if we can escape these electronic demands on our time.

Impersonal Information

Complicating these, we find we find ourselves bombarded by information from sources that were unimagined just a few years ago. From Facebook to Twitter, from Tumblr to Instagram, or from Netflix to Hulu – and frankly, dozens I just don’t know because there are new ones everyday – the sources and amounts of information are staggering.

Truth is, it’s very, very impersonal. Oh, it may feel personal when you get birthday greetings on Facebook from folks you haven’t seen in years. Yes, it makes you feel good to know that people remember you (I just celebrated a birthday, and I’m very thankful folks remembered me).

It’s a Big But

But, and it’s a big “but,” it’s just not the same. We know that a handwritten note is better than an email or text. We know a phone call is better than a note of any kind. And, we know that our physical presence in a person’s life matters more than notes or phone calls.

Our presence in another person’s life on the good days and bad days really does make all the difference. So, nowadays, more than ever we must work to be personal, respectful, thoughtful, and yes, kind – as we are present in others’ lives. It’s important for our lives, as Henry James instructed.

Give a Little Kindness

Because it’s important, we must be intentional. Choose to be personal, respectful, thoughtful, and kind. Choose it. Our intentional kindness and respect to someone we know or someone we don’t know can make all the difference for that someone’s day.

It’s simple things in our lives like:

• Asking how someone is when you meet, and taking the time to really hear how they are feeling.
• Calling your store checkers by name, asking about their day, and thanking them for their help.
• Giving the extra time given to that person who interrupts you during your busy day.
• Saying, “Your very welcome, I’m glad to help you,” when someone thanks you because responses like “It’s nothing” or “No problem” make them seem like a task rather than a person.
• Returning an extra cart or two in the grocery store parking lot.
• Writing a note instead of a text or email.
• Being present in someone’s celebrations, sorrows, or fears.
• Encouraging someone working through that difficult day or project.

Truth is, it’s hard, especially for someone like me who is task-driven, but it makes a difference. And, if we’re really honest with ourselves, we know that the very best we live in this life is not a list of tasks, but a series of moments with others. Our memories lose the tasks (that’s why we need lists), but we never forget those moments when someone makes us feel special, noticed, or loved.

We can do that for others, and it’s really simple: be kind, be kind, be kind. We read something like this in Proverbs, those guides in the Old Testament for living: “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor” (Proverbs 21.21). Jesus, too, said something of the like in Luke 6.31, “…as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

If you want some kindness in your life, give some kindness to others’ lives. We all just might find some real life in those little seeds of kindness.

Godspeed your journey as you take the fire with you.

Explore the text for this post: Proverbs 21.21.

Photo Credit: “Join the Conspiracy of Kindness” by Wade M and “One Million Acts of Kindness” by Martin (Creative Commons).