Cups of kindness

And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22

What does it mean to be kind? Does it sound weak? Does it sound non-specific? The word translated literally can mean goodness, gentleness, and kindness; it is a word often used in reference to God Himself.

As Christian doctors, we have the unique opportunity to show kindness. However, it is easy to become too task-oriented and focus on the biomedical need of a patient, the list of procedures to be performed, the number of names on the ward round list or the meeting agenda for the afternoon.

Sometimes we can forget to stop and show kindness to the vulnerable individuals who are under our care. Kindness can often involve simple things that don’t necessarily mean we need to spend a lot more time with an individual.

It helps when we remember that each person is made in the image of God, and to try and see them with that worth and dignity. I admit that does not always come automatically when you are exhausted and the patient might have challenging problems which have no clear solution.

Yet as Christians, we are called to be kind, and in doing so, we can show the love and kindness of God to those who have no hope. In the parable of the sheep and the goats, as recorded in Matthew 25, Jesus reminds us that whatever we do for the ‘least of these’, we do for him.

Prayer: Lord, Help me to remember that through acts of kindness, we are not only serving the person in front of us but are serving Christ himself. This is a wonderful privilege for which we must be thankful.