Kindness is a lesson we are constantly working on in our home. We remind the boys on a regular basis to show kindness (and gentleness!) to one another. We tell them about the importance of being kind... sharing toys, using our hands to hug... not to hit, letting someone else pick a game or a movie, picking up their toys or making up their bed without being asked, etc.
However, when we go out into the world; when we are away from home, I am usually so wrapped up in our errands and making sure everyone is doing what they should be doing, I forget to remind them of the importance of showing kindness to others... outside of our home. AND, I forget to make an effort to show kindness to others myself. There are SO many opportunities, everywhere we go. Showing kindness can have a huge impact on someone, even if its just making a point to smile at someone.
The bible tells us in Philippians 2:3-4, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
So today, we had a talk about that and it went something like this:
Me: Hey boys, I want to talk to you for a minute. (They came into the kitchen and I asked them to sit with me.) Do you know the reason why we go to t-ball practice?
Connor: So we can learn how to hit and throw the ball and run the bases.
Me: That's right. And why do we do that?
Connor: So we can get better.
Me: Right again! And why do we need to get better?
Connor: Hmmmmmmm.
Dylan: I don't know.
Me: So we can play our best at the game! Right?
Dylan: Right!
Connor: Oh, yeah. Right!
Me: OK, now, you know how we are always talking about showing kindness to each other and to me and to daddy? Well, that's kind of like practice. We need to do it here as much as we can so that we can get better. And when we go out of the house, to Wal-mart, or to school group, or to church, or anywhere else... that's like the game! We really need to show others what we've been practicing at home. I know sometimes we are really busy, but we still need to show kindness to others where ever we go. Jesus wants us to show kindness to others so they can experience His love through us. So, I thought we could make something to help us out!
I had typed up some acts of kindness and cut them into strips. Here are some examples:
Next I asked them to wrap each one around a crayon to curl them up:
Then we put all of the slips into a jar:
Me: Now whenever we go out, we can pick out 1 of these acts of kindness, and make a point to do whatever the paper says. And sometimes, when we have some free time, we may pull one and make a special trip to brighten someone's day.
The finished jar.
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14
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