“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23, ISV)
Kindness.
When we begin with a platform of love, joy, peace, patience, etc. kindness comes easier. Kindness is, nevertheless, cultivated. It is a choice that we make from moment to moment. With every interaction, we approach with kindness or not. It requires a decision to act. Carpe momento.
Random acts of kindness? It is a nice thought, but it implies that we can pick and choose when to be nice—and to whom we are nice.
It is easy to be nice to nice people. The challenge for me—and I presume the reader, as well—is to be kind to the people (we perceive to be) less deserving of kindness.
There is a void of kindness in our society. We certainly expect people to be kind to us, but we believe it to be excusable when we are unkind in return. I mentioned the notion of a “third way” in “Cultivate—Love”. Kindness is the product of a “third way” mentality. Consider what happens when you are kind to someone who is “undeserving of kindness”. You seriously mess with them. They don’t know what to do. You want sweet revenge? Nothing pours hot coals on their heads than being kind to them. You completely disarm them. You get the satisfaction of taking the high road, but, moreover, you change the dynamics of the relationship. Sure, they might continue being a jerk. Then, again, maybe—and the likelihood is greater—they will return kindness with kindness. Either way, you can feel good.
Kindness has to begin with someone. Why not me?
Carpe momento. Be kind to others.