I don’t know if your mother had a saying that you remember, but my mom used to tell me and my sisters to “Act pretty.” It has nothing to do with outward appearance, She was telling us to be kind. We all have to be reminded of that…even in our adult years!
Paul tells us in Titus 2, Older women are to teach what is good, and to train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, andkind.
Why does he have to remind us of this? Because it’s so easy for us to DO all the things we should be doing, but with the wrong attitude. We can do the laundry, cook a meal and make the house spotless, but be huffing and puffing a bad attitude while doing so. (I’m So guilty!)
One day a dear older man and his wife (I’ll refer to them as Mr. and Mrs. C) from our church stopped in for a short visit. I loved it when they would stop by. They didn’t call. They didn’t announce ahead of time, they just took the risk and drove out to the country, stopped in and rang the bell to see if we were home.
On their stop that day, Mr. C. was seated only momentarily before a twinkle came to his eye and he proceeded to attempt to get up off the sofa.
“I’ll be right back” he said, with his finger extended to make his point.
“I have to go get something.”
He slowly made his way back out to his car, assisted by his cane. Returning minutes later, he walked towards where I was seated and presented me with a little box of chocolates. “Here’s you some chocolate!” he said with a chuckle. I was blown away. This man who had difficulty just making it into the living room in the first place due to the effects of his age, made a special trip back out to his vehicle to retrieve this treasure box for me? I was so touched!
I was not surprised at his kindness; he was known for that – not just by me, but by many others as well. Many times I’ve seen him reach his hand into his suit coat at church, like a magician reaching in to retrieve a rabbit out of a hat, and coming out with a sweet treat to share. This is a special kind of “magic.” It’s the magic of a giving heart.
Who doesn’t love to get a little gift? Proverbs 3:27 is a reminder to me to give. It says,
“Withhold not good to them to whom it is due
when it is in the power thy hand to do it.”
Proverbs 3:27
That verse is a little push to be like Mr. C, who was always looking for ways to share the things he has the power to give. We can all do something for someone else. It’s just about asking the Lord to make us aware of what we could give. I’ve noticed by watching giving people that being a generous person makes your heart large. Mr. C. was just a loving man; so was his wife. I know others who are always on the lookout to do thoughtful gestures, and they, too, have that spirit that just makes you enjoy their company – not because of what they give, but because of their large heart!
If we’re going to be like Mr. C, We need to:
Ask God for wisdom and the heart to be a giver.
Think about who we’re going to be with today.
Prayerfully think about what their needs might be – or just a grace gift you could share.
Obey whatever the Lord brings to your heart!
Need a few suggestions to get you thinking?
You might be the lady who always has a peppermint or chewing gum in your purse to share.
Did you get special Buy one Get One Free offers at the grocery? Share the extra one!
Hand over the magazines or books you’ve read to someone you think would enjoy them.
Keep wrapped candies – Kisses, Werther’s /caramels, Smarties, miniature candy bars, etc. at your front door to give your guests.
May people remember us as folks who have large, giving hearts! A little gift says big things!
What special gift has someone given you that touched your heart?
Refresh your heart and the hearts of others by giving!
The world is filled with attitudes of selfishness, impatience and rudeness, so when a woman displays the godly attribute of kindness, it is a striking contrast. This week’s podcast episode will answer what, why, where and how of kindness in a believer’s life. Oh, and listen to see if you would pass “the kindness quiz.”
I’ll never forget the blessing of a dear friend standing at my door with a hot, homecooked meal in her arms. My husband had just had surgery and I was overwhelmed with his care. This sweet friend had called to tell me she was bringing me supper. One day last year my daughter brought a delicious chicken casserole when Covid came knocking at our door. There have been countless times when a meal delivered was like seeing the Lord’s hands comforting and consoling us. Those meals not only touched our stomachs; more importantly, they touched our hearts.
During a recent text message with my daughter Whitney, she shared with me about the blessing her small group leaders are to her and her husband. She said to me,
“They invited us over for dinner Friday night and we had a really great time!
I replied by saying,
I like these people!
That this dear couple would invest in the lives of my family means so much! Because they extended that kindness to Paul and Whitney, it was like they had done it for me! If you’re a parent, you understand that when someone reaches out in kindness to your child in a special way, it’s as though they were doing it directly to you, because it touches your heart.
Let’s put that thought on a spiritual plane – when you and I serve our Savior by living out the Christian life in practical ways, God says it’s as though we have done it to Him.
Matthew 25
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
That could include:
Sharing a meal with others in your home
Spending time mentoring a younger woman
Opening God’s Word to encourage and teach
Dong a kind deed like serving the elderly, visiting the sick, or writing a card, providing for the poor.
These deeds don’t save us, but they show the world that we belong to God. When we do any of these kinds of things in the name of Christ, God says it’s as though we are doing it directly for Him!
So, who will you reach out to today or this week? Ask God to show you who and how and then do it in Jesus’ name. His Father’s heart will be touched by your actions.
What action has someone extended to your child that meant much to you?
What action could you do that will touch the heart of God?
RefreshHer 