The Power of Kindness

"Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" Romans 2:4

The Bible has much to say about kindness, and the importance of being kind. In fact, kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

Today, I want to share with you an excerpt from "The Power of Kindness" by Mac Anderson. The year was 1863, on a spring day in Northern Pennsylvania. A poor boy was selling goods door-to-door to pay his way through school. He realized he had only a dime left, and that he was hungry. So he decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry and so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything", she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strengthened also. He had been ready to give up and quit. Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, he went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day, he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested from the business office to pass the final billing to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words: Paid in full with one glass of milk. I hope you were as blessed by this story as I was, and that you will take the opportunity to be kind to someone today. You never know the powerful impact it will have when God uses it to change someone's life! God bless you for your kindness!

God Bless you for your kindness,
Hank Botts

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