Happy News - Today is World Kindness Day

Today is World Kindness Day

This separate day dedicated to acts of kindness to humanity was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Organization. The Cosmos flower is adopted as a symbol of World Kindness Day. This Day is observed in many countries including Canada, Japan, Australia and India.

The purpose of World Kindness Day is to look beyond ourselves, our country, our culture, our race, our religion and realize we are citizens of the world.

Hopefully, kindness is something which should be displayed on a daily basis and not just on one day, the fact remains that we are so caught up in our own comforts, problems and needs that many times we fail to look around and see the needs and hardships of others or help them.

So what can we do on this World Kindness Day to make at least a small difference to mankind? I think there is no better gift one can give to a fellow human being than peace and happiness. Let us do at least one act of kindness on this day. Let us help ourselves and help our global brothers and sisters by spreading the message of peace and happiness.

You ask the question ‘What can I do?” – just look around you – help an elderly person or someone in need, contribute to charity, give food for a needy person, donate blood, visit an orphanage or a nursing home, spend time with the inmates and so on. Have you ever tried to meet the local refugees who may be living in your community? Reach out to them in kindness. Give everyone a smile today – it will bring you personal happiness.

If a person should try to pay you for your act of kindness – just smile and say “Just pass it on – do something nice for someone else when you can.”

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Sunday Reflection - World Kindness Day

Yesterday was World Kindness Day.

Those who observed it had a great time doing little acts of kindness to family, friends and complete strangers. Some who were in a drive through food or coffee line gave the cashier extra money to pay for the items of the people who were in the car behind them. Or paid the other person's toll while driving through toll booths. One lady purchased 6 bunches of flowers and took them to the Emergency Room at her local hospital and gave them to the Nurses who were on duty.

You get the idea. What if we all took one day to practice random acts of kindness? What if it became a way of life for us? It doesn't have to cost money. You could shovel the driveway of an elder, or pick up their groceries from the store. You could give a ride to a member of your place of worship who has to walk there in the inclement weather. How about donating food to the local food pantry?

What does the Bible tells us about 'kindness'?

Here are ten great Bible verses for World Kindness Day

(a day to practice random acts of kindness).

1. “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” (Proverbs 12:25)

2. “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” (Proverbs 19:17)

3. This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

4. “[God] has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” (Acts 14:17)

5. “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.” (Romans 2:4)

6. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” (1 Corinthians 13:4)

7. “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)

8. “… the incomparable riches of [God's] grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)

9. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

10. “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:4-6)

(compiled by Pastor Ray Fowler)

So here is your call for this week:

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