The Lost Art of Kindness

Art by Trixie Dela Pena-Camacho

I always thought that being kind to other people was a natural thing for human beings. But as I’ve observed over the past few years, it’s really not. We’ve been conditioned to look out for our own selves and to make sure that other people are not taking advantage of us. Our hearts are naturally selfish and it takes letting a Savior into our hearts to change all that.

As we’re still being changed from glory to glory, and as we undergo the process of sanctification, we have to remind ourselves that kindness is a virtue that we must develop. I would occasionally share #BeKindLifeHacks on social media to show that being kind is practical, doable, and should become a habit. Here are some examples of everyday acts of kindness that we can do:

1. When someone asks you to pray for them, do it at that exact moment, quietly or out loud.

2. Clean up after yourself when eating out and lessen your use of plastic. Be kind to the planet.

3. Don’t wait for an occasion to give a loved one a small gift that reminds you of him or her, or send a postcard to a friend you haven’t seen in a while.

4. Give up your seat on the train or bus for someone who seems more tired than you.

5. Be kind to yourself as well, especially when you mess up.

You would think that some of these acts of kindness are basic and just common sense, but a lot of us tend to forget them. Kindness is found in the mundane and the fantastic. We are called to be kind to one another and to “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12, NASB).

List down practical acts of kindness that you can do. Be intentionally kind this week until kindness becomes natural for you.

This is an entry written by Ida Torres from Dawns: A Weekly Devotional for Self-Care & Spiritual Growth. This book is now available at OMF Lit and Passages Bookshops and our online store, shop.omflit.com for P350.

About the book:

Many times a woman’s path is dimmed by heartbreak, loneliness, pain, self-doubt, and suffering. Where could she turn to find light?

This weekly devotional for women offers words of friendship, grace, joy, peace, and love. Written by three authors — Isa Garcia, Janina Rivera, and Ida Torres — these pages tackle women’s journey of faith, self-care, and spiritual growth.

Read the entry for the week...
Set aside time to meditate on the anchor verse...
Respond to the journaling prompt in whatever way you wish...
And remember, just when everything looks at its darkest,
soon will break a new dawn.