The Gift of One DaySample

The Gift of Kindness

Hurting people are everywhere. Do you see them? Because they’re out there.

For us, it took the experience of being the ones who were hurting to understand pain on a visceral level, to comprehend its silent ache. Before then, we didn’t realize just how invisible a hurting person can be. If people knew, they would be more caring, patient, and considerate. If people noticed, they might feel compelled to stop and listen, to ask what they can do, to see whether someone wants to talk or needs a hug. 

But they don’t see, usually. They don’t know. Most people aren’t focused and alert. They aren’t aware of others in need among their friends, family, acquaintances, and even the everyday cast of com­plete strangers. 

But once you’ve been there—once you’ve nearly swooned under the accumulated stress that can complicate even the most routine of daily tasks—you know you’re not the only one. Many others, you now realize, have been cycling laboriously through the motions all around you, on days when you were the one a little irritated at their slowness and indeci­sion, when you were the one a little put off by their haggard appearance. 

When you have been that hurting person, it really changes your awareness and capacity for grace. You realize now that you will pass no fewer than a half-dozen people today in any public place or private set­ting, whether at work or church or school or any of the places you go, who are carrying more than they think they can manage. So what do we intend to do about it?

It’s easy to say we care about others. Easy to think of ourselves as basically caring people. But compassion is specific, not general. Compas­sion is individual, face-to-face action, loving the person who’s directly in front of you. Compassion comes down to changing how you actually act toward others, not just how you think you should live now or when you’re not quite so busy. It’s easy to think of ourselves as being basically kind. But don’t fool yourself. If you can’t name a specific instance when you’ve shown spontaneous kindness to someone this week, you’re prob­ably not an especially kind person. We all have plenty of opportunities to show kindness and compassion. We just choose not to take advantage of them.

A one-day mindset will change many things about your life, many deep and wonderful things. But one of the most radical is discovering a renewed desire to be a living source of grace and peace to everyone you meet. Begin to think about how you can show someone kindness today. It’s not about showing kindness someday; it’s about showing kindness every day.

Have you ever experienced God’s love and kindness through the actions of a stranger? How did that make you feel?