We Reap What We Sow - The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional

We Reap What We Sow

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

2 Corinthians 9:6, NIV

Kindness is not always a quality we come by naturally. Often it’s one we have to cultivate over time. The busyness of life, harshness of others, or even just our never-ending to-do lists can hinder our desire to extend kindness. Sometimes we just don’t feel like doing things for others. It’s in those moments that kindness toward others takes practice and intentionality.

There are many times when I don’t feel like being kind—when I get angry with my kids or my husband, or when I feel upset when someone cuts me off in traffic or is rude to me in the checkout line. When kindness is not a habit, I can feel powerless to be kind in those moments, finding myself snapping instead. But I do have a choice in how I will respond, and cultivating a habit of kindness makes that choice easier in difficult circumstances.

In the tough moments, we can remember that Scripture says when we plant sparingly we will also reap sparingly, but if we plant generously we will reap generously. This also applies to the kindness we extend toward others, encouraging us to plant more of what we’d like returned to us in our own lives. It’s simple, really: if we want others to be kind to us, then we need to be willing to show kindness first and not wait for others to extend it to us.

Do you find yourself overwhelmed with busyness and struggling to be kind? Have you struggled to make kindness a regular habit rather than a onetime event? Remember that kindness does not have to be grand; a habit of kindness is built one tiny action at a time. It just takes a bit of intentionality. Be generous with your kindness today, even if you don’t feel like it.

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Choose to extend kindness to someone else in a frustrating moment.