Consistent Kindness

Consistent Kindness

Never tire of doing what is good.

2 Thessalonians 3:13

My sister Katrina was the mom of two young children, battling breast cancer in her midtwenties. Many times she had very little energy as she went through treatments that tried to rid her body of the cancer. The women at our church decided that they’d like to help her during this season. They signed up to do things like watch her kids and bring meals for the family. One woman even volunteered to come and clean her house every week.

I often think of that woman who showed up to do the unlovely work of cleaning my sister’s house from top to bottom. She quietly worked for several hours every week, with no fanfare or crowds to see her work. Even as other volunteers dwindled, meals slowed, and babysitting ended, Carol persisted, continuing with her devotion to Katrina. I realize now that this was one of the biggest blessings my sister received during that difficult time and has remained one of the most profound acts of continual kindness I remember from her illness.

We may never know what our consistent acts of kindness will do in the lives of those around us. Kindness doesn’t have to be showy or pretty or done in front of others to matter. My sister’s clean house became a testament to me of someone who was willing to regularly show up and love someone else, even when others had stopped.

We all have things that we are good at or that are second nature to us, whether that’s cooking, offering encouragement, praying for others, or even cleaning. We can offer these gifts to those who are going through a challenging time. Scripture encourages us to never tire from doing good; sometimes that means we are to offer occasional help, but other times we may need to persist and show up on a more regular basis. Carol understood that her offering to show up week after week was needed, and it created a deep impact over time. We, too, must understand and harness the power of continually showing up for someone else.

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Think of someone who may need assistance on a consistent basis, and choose a way to extend kindness to them regularly.