“Clothe yourselves with kindness.”
Colossians 3:12
From my Journal 2005...Best to start this story from the beginning..."Travel Lines - 1: The Self Train Line - Derailed"
The mid-afternoon craving was as predictable as the desire to nap after gorging on a Thanksgiving dinner. For the majority of us Americans, we are so blessed in this “land of plenty” that it is hard to distinguish the bounty we have to eat on our “day of thanks” from any other day of the week. I mean, how much can one possibly eat if we routinely have at least one meal a day consisting of a heaping plateful of food? The craving would not subside, so I—willingly—gave in and took a break from work to walk two shops down to the small grocery.
I quickly made my selection only to stand in line behind an elderly woman who methodically counted out the bills and change in her coin purse. I noticed the modest selection of food rang up and her frustration. “Just don’t have enough left from my check. I’ll have to put these back,” she lamented as she handed the clerk the family size pack of pork chops priced for quick sale. “I still need to buy my medicine before the first of the month,” she offered as an excuse.
I could help her, I thought, I know how expensive medication is—it can be an elderly person on Social Security most costly monthly expenditure! I dug into my pocket finding it empty and then remembered that I live on a debit card. If you had some cash, you could help her. The thought quickly excused me from any responsibility to help the elderly widow. I handed the clerk my candy bar and swiped my debit card. “Do you want cash back?” the card machine messaged to me. I thoughtlessly punched the red, “NO” button, took my receipt and candy bar and hurried back to work.
Back at the pharmacy, as I busied myself in the routine of checking prescriptions, the picture of the elderly widow counting her money and shaking her head in frustration flashed in my mind like a billboard stuck on a deserted highway in the middle of the desert. If I had cash I would have helped. I rationalized away the conviction rising within me. “Your total is $121.62,” the voice of our technician prompted. I looked up, and the billboard in my mind came to life as the elderly woman counted her money, shaking her head with frustration.
In my car, making the long commute home after dark, I could not get out of my mind the picture of the elderly widow counting her money and shaking her head with frustration. You could’ve used your debit card—it’s the same as cash! Those words of conviction echoed in my head.
There should be no barriers to showing kindness. With the right heart—one clothed with compassion, kindness, and humility—the Holy Spirit’s Fruit of Kindness can grow and ripen to become a consistent trait of the new person transforming within you. As my journey on the Spirit Airline continued, I realized that my old ways no longer felt right, like clothes that belong to another person.
For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 1
All of the believers were of one heart and mind, and they felt that what they owned was not their own; they shared everything they had. 2
Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember; the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 3
Praise to Our Father for the words He has given me ~ Jeff Cambridge
Copyright © 2004, 2005, 2016 Stellar Rhema Ministry, Jeff Cambridge
References
All Scripture quotations unless otherwise noted are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
1. Ephesians 5:8-9
2. Acts 4:32
3. Colossians 3:12-15
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