Passing Kindness On

Passing Kindness On

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Philippians 2:3-4

This is the first winter our kids are becoming proficient skiers, and my husband has been taking them up the ski lifts and sending them down the easier runs on their own at the small ski hill near our house. My daughter, our most adventurous child, has embraced confidence and freedom as she grows more experienced and skilled.

It was over a cozy dinner after their most recent ski outing that the story came tumbling out. My children attend school in a Mandarin-immersion program, and their classroom assistants include teachers from China who are visiting as part of an international teaching program. Our daughter recognized one of the visiting teachers out on the slopes struggling by herself.

In a blink, my daughter skied over and invited the teacher to join our family for the afternoon. She saw someone in need and met that need—with zero coaching from her dad. My husband later told me how proud he was to watch as our daughter spent her afternoon sticking close to the teacher and sharing tips and tricks as the woman learned to ski.

My daughter’s invitation became a precious and vivid memory for the teacher as she recounted her version of the story to me months later. Being greeted in her native language in the midst of a frustrating struggle, followed by an invitation to join our family, was profoundly touching. While my daughter may not have been thinking of Philippians 2:3-4 when faced with the choice of skiing independently or setting aside an afternoon to encourage one of her teachers, she certainly embodied the spirit and intent of today’s verse in her choice.

While there are days when my husband and I wonder whether we are striking the right balance on this parenting journey, it is moments like these—when we realize that keeping our eyes and ears open for opportunities to help others is rubbing off on our children—that we are encouraged by what God is doing in our family.

—Julie

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Look for someone you can offer assistance to, and then do it.