In this third session, we are looking at the importance of kindness. All of us hope to be kind, but in practice we can get rattled and exhausted and that doesn’t always go to plan. Leaning on God to keep us on track in those moments helps to keep us focused on those around us rather than on ourselves.

Open in prayer asking God to reveal to you people in your life who are in need of a little extra kindness and for his strength to be able to show that kindness no matter what has been going on in our lives. Then read the following Bible passages together.

Bible readings

• 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Ephesians 4:32
• Proverbs 12:25

From the Book A Little Bit of Faith

Read this text together.

Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
One act of kindness or a small gesture can start a ripple effect that has an impact on far more people than the one it was originally directed towards. I know I’ve seen that more than ever in lockdown during the pandemic. In 2020, I think we all witnessed small displays of kindness that carried through our communities. What kind act could you do to spread some love today?

I will inhale love and exhale hate.
Filling yourself with love and actively choosing to breathe it into your body will help you to develop empathy for those around you. There’s no need to bring hate into your mind and body. If I ever do allow it to creep in, I just remember that there’s no need to keep it there! I just breathe in love and compassion, and breathe out the negative bits.

Your prayer for someone may or may not change them but it always changes you. – Craig Groeschel
It’s lovely to be thinking of others and praying for them but, actually, we can never influence the outcome of our prayers. That person may or may not change, but when we put others’ needs front and centre in our lives, we definitely do. Reaching out and asking for help for someone helps me to put my life into perspective. It’s healing for ourselves to put selfishness to one side and focus on someone else.

I will never regret being kind.
I think the thing that holds a lot of people back from apologizing or showing someone an act of kindness is worry about how they’ll respond, but it’s not what they do in return that matters. If you know that you’ve behaved well, you can hold your head up high. You will never look back and say that you wish you were rude to that person, but you’re definitely likely to regret it in the other direction. Kindness is an approach you can always trust.

I can see the extraordinary in every ordinary person I meet – including myself.
My podcast is called Extraordinary People but, in reality, each person is an ordinary person who has something extraordinary inside. I’ve come to know that the ‘extraordinary’ can be found in absolutely anyone, if I tap into it. You may come across people who don’t think that way, but that’s shallow and sad for them because they will never see those incredible values and characteristics in a so-called ‘ordinary person’. We are all extraordinary in our own way.

The trick, my brethren and sisters, is to enjoy the journey, traveling hand in hand, in sunshine and storm, as companions who love one another. – Gordon B. Hinckley (My Dear Sisters: Inspiration for Women, Covenant Communications, 2008)
Community has been so important to me. Ultimately, we can look at difficult situations and feel defeated. In times like that, it’s my faith and the loved ones around me that gets me through. It gives me the strength and encouragement to keep going. I believe that we can all achieve so much with a little help from our friends and a little bit of faith.

Discussion questions

• Jesus was the ultimate model of kindness – can you think of some examples of this from the gospels?
• Showing kindness can come in many forms, from a warm smile to showing up at someone’s house with a home cooked meal. What ways can you show kindness to those around you?
• How easy do you find it to be kind in everyday life, particularly when you’re rushed or tired or not feeling on top form?
• Is there someone in your life that you know could use a little extra kindness at the moment? What could you do for them?
• Sometimes the hardest person for us to show kindness to is ourselves – would you say you are good at treating yourself well?

Application for the week

This week, think of ways to be kind to both those around you and yourself. Acts of kindness and gestures are lovely, but also be thinking about the way you interact with others on a day-to-day basis. If you can feel yourself finding it tough – invite God into those moments and ask for his help.

Prayer

Close with a time of prayer, asking for God to show you how you can be showing kindness to yourselves and those around you this week and asking for the strength to do so.