Scripture Focus:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV)

Message:
I have heard this phrase often in children's church, "Kindness is a good practice." I'm sure some of you can remember repeating this phrase at the beginning of each service just as a little reminder to be on your best behavior during church time! I don't know about you, but sometimes it's easy for me to repeat something so many times that I actually don't pay attention to what I'm really saying. What does it really mean to be kind anyway? Is it just playing nice with your friend and sharing all the cool new toys you got for your birthday with your cousins when they come over for a visit? Well, let's find out as we explore the meaning of kindness just a little bit further. Kindness is goodness in action, gentleness in dealing with others, and doing something but not expecting anything in return. Kindness is respect and helping others without waiting for someone to help you back. You just keep being kind no matter what. This is according to Wikipedia the online dictionary. But what about the Bible's definition? Kindness is:

•goodness
•excellence
•uprightness
•usefulness
•gentleness

There is one story in the Bible that always comes to mind when I think about showing kindness to others. It is the parable of the Good Samaritan. For those of you who have never heard it, you can turn to Luke 10:25-37 and read the whole story, but I am just going to recap for those of you who know it. Jesus is teaching and tells a story of a man who was travelling and is robbed and beat up, then left on the side of the road to die. Two men pass by and do nothing to help this poor man, then a third man comes along and shows kindness to him by tending to his wounds, and taking him into town to rest and get healed. What is so strange, is that this Good Samaritan was from a people that were an enemy to the man he helped and to his people.

It would be really hard to help an enemy. The right thing to do would seem to be to pass on by and laugh at your enemy's injuries, and think they got what they deserved. That is just the opposite of what Jesus is telling us to do here.

Challenge:
Try showing these 3 acts of kindness this week: 1) Sit by someone at lunch who is picked on at school; 2) Ask your neighbor if you can pull their weeds without getting paid; and 3) Have a free lemonade stand on Saturday for all the kids in your neighborhood and tell them about Jesus as they come to get lemonade. Let's ask Jesus to help us walk in kindness all the time!

Dear Jesus, thank you for showing us how to be kind by teaching us in the Bible about kindness . Help us to complete these challenges this week and to keep thinking of random acts of kindness to be a witness for you! Amen.

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