Kindness

It rained hard a couple of days last week. Traffic was worse than normal. My commute is about 40 minutes on a good day, but on a rainy day it can be an hour. That's not fun.

On one of those rainy mornings last week, I pulled in the parking lot at work and it was pouring. I was already annoyed from the commute, and now I was going to get drenched getting out and getting my umbrella from the trunk. As I sat there getting my phones, keys, etc., an old man walked up to my car. He walked slowly and had one of those massive golf umbrellas. As I got out, he asked me if I had an umbrella and if I needed him to walk me to the building. I told him I had one in the trunk, but thanked him for the kind gesture.

We walked together to the building. I put my umbrella down and opened the door. I motioned for him to go on in ahead of me. He said, "no...you go ahead. I am going to stand out here and wait to see if anyone needs my umbrella." As best I know, he stayed out there all morning walking people from their cars to the building. Kindness. I thought a lot about it that day. I didn't think of the man really, just his kindness. I think at times I forget the basic things in life that matter. Being kind is certainly one of those.

I'm trying to be kinder to people. I'm trying to remember the little things that are so easily forgotten. In my life and work, I am doing my best to be like Christ in my teaching, in my leadership, and in my relationships. I am so focused on those aspects of His ministry that I easily forget He was kind, loving, humble, and gentle.

I am pursuing kindness this Christmas season. I'm looking for ways to share Christ through actions...even if noone ever knows I did.

I'm looking for rainy days.