Kindness Matters
Month: March 2016
“Spoken” Small Acts of Kindness
By Shauna Williams
“You’re doing a great job.” Those five words spoken to me by one of my neighbors was a small act of kindness that, in the moment, was immensely encouraging but also, over time, was used by the Lord to enlighten me to the true significance of words.
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Prov. 25:11).
How true that is! We’ve all been there—that
moment when we’ve felt as if we’re drowning—that we’re completely overwhelmed mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—that we’re in need of some sort of a lifeline. Then, someone breaks through and speaks a word of affirmation with sincerity at the most opportune time. It’s like a breath of fresh air, a priceless gift, a picture of timeless beauty; and we know within our hearts that only God could have orchestrated something so good.
“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Prov. 15:23).
“You’re doing a great job.” When those five words were spoken to me, I’d been overwhelmed for a while, feeling as if my efforts as a stay-home mom were all in vain—as if maybe, somehow, I’d missed my true calling. My neighbor had no clue how stressed I’d become or to what extent I’d begun questioning my life. We simply were having a typical, casual conversation. She gave of herself—taking time to listen, being attuned and sincere.
Her actions and words were simple, yet those words she uttered served as a source of encouragement which continues to impact me to this very day. It wasn’t necessarily the words themselves that held the greatest significance but the realization that dawned upon me a few days later. I finally realized that I too possess something of significance that if used appropriately can edify and encourage those around me. I hold the ability, as we all do, to minister to others through our words—words spoken in sincerity at the most opportune times.
I suddenly felt the Lord pricking my heart. I was convicted like never before by how many missed opportunities I’d bore witness to throughout my own life—times I’d merely thought affirmations but never turned them into actual words. Since then, I’ve prayed that God would use my words as an instrument in His service—that I would be attuned to the needs of those around me—that my words would bring edification, hope, and healing—that He would fill me with love and sincerity for those He brings across my path. May my words be pleasant, breathing life into those who need it most.
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” (Prov. 16:24).
We oftentimes, especially us stay-home moms, view ourselves as the ones with nothing of significance to offer because we possess so little time, money, and material substance but we fail to understand that the most awe-inspiring act can simply be a sincere word of affirmation. If we’d only take the time to actually listen to those God has placed in our path, we’d learn that our words are powerful, more so than we could ever imagine if we’d only place them in His hands.
No matter the stage of life. Be an encourager. Make a difference. Let your words edify.
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Eph. 4:29).
Shauna Williams is an Alabama native, a stay-at-home mom, and a member of the ACFW. She is a born-again Christian, saved by the grace of God. She is married to the man she considers to be her best friend and soul mate, and together, they have two beautiful children and one spoiled-rotten calico cat. When she’s not attempting to snag little snippets of free-time to write, she can be found spending time with her family and reading. Even from a young age, she has always enjoyed getting lost in the midst of a good book, and in 2014, she finally found the courage to release her very own novel. Her goal as a writer has always been to inspire and encourage others to seek God and remain faithful to His calling in their own lives through the struggles, lessons, and triumphs her fictional characters experience. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (II Peter 3:18).
Connecting with and Contacting the Author:
www.facebook.com/shaunawilliamsbooks
Twitter: @_ShaunaWilliams
www.shaunawilliamsbooks.wix.com/recreatingeverafter
www.recreatingeverafter.blogspot.com
Serene Courage
Emily Faith Johnson is no stranger to the dark recesses of loneliness, pain, sorrow, and despair. Her life is marked by unrelenting abuse, from the verbal onslaught of her bitter, alcoholic mother to the physical aggression perpetrated by godless men. She copes as best she knows how—existing in a fog while numbly going through the motions of life. Then, one day, four months before her twenty-first birthday, everything changes when she wakes up in the cab of a tractor trailer, faced with the fear of the unknown, the offer of a man she barely knows, and the promise of a complete stranger. Will she be able to find the courage necessary to attain a better life free from abuse? To trust a man who makes her question everything she knows to be true? To believe in a God whom she knows nothing about? To rise above her past to become the woman she was meant to be?
This second novel in the Surrendered Hearts series is a beautiful story of redeeming love. All novels in this series may be read as stand-alones.
Here’s the link for purchasing on Amazon:
Caitlin Emfinger, Missionary Associate to Ecuador
Here’s someone who left all to help others…
Caitlin Emfinger
I wanted to start this post by introducing myself. My name is Caitlin Emfinger, and I’m a Missionary Associate in Ecuador. I live in a small city called Sucúa. I work in a girl’s home named the Hope House, as well as among the Shuar communities. Every Sunday, I get to tell kids about Jesus and the Bible. Every week, I get to encourage and help teen girls grow closer to God.
My life is not the typical life of a 23-year-old.
This past year was my first year as a missionary. That’s still crazy to think about. I remember near the beginning of the year reading through Matthew, and this passage in chapter 8 stuck out to me:
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then one of the…
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Family and Friends Provided Help
Several of my neighbors and I had planned to go out for lunch to celebrate a friend’s birthday, but I needed to take care of my dog first. I saw Mary Carol headed toward her car and I asked if she was joining us. She said yes and offered me a ride. I agreed, but said I had to take Petey out first. I walked him down the street and onto the island.
Something must have caught Petey’s attention, because he suddenly jumped off the island, taking me by surprise. Because I had his leash in one hand, I couldn’t break my fall. I hit the pavement, face first. Blood streamed from my nose, forehead, and upper lip. I cried out but no one heard me. Meanwhile, I was holding onto Petey to keep him from running into the street. I struggled to get up, then gingerly made my way back to the house, holding Petey’s leash in one hand while I used the other to try to minimize the blood flowing down my face. I stopped near Mary Carol’s house where she sat in her car. She gasped, then helped me walk home, clean up, and get some pain medicine. She called my mom when I agreed that I needed to see the doctor.
Mom drove me to the urgent care ![urgent-care-sign-600x295[1]](https://jenniferhallmark.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/urgent-care-sign-600x2951.jpeg?w=300&h=148)
and my next door neighbor, Mark, who’s an x-ray tech there, checked me in. As he was finishing up my paperwork, Mark called the nurse and told her not to take their next patient back yet. He took me to a private room, away from everyone else.
He came back twice, asking if I needed anything and suggested I try a retractable leash for Petey. A little later, he came to tell me he was headed home.
Mary Carol didn’t have to take me home and help me. Mom didn’t have to interrupt her day and take me to the urgent care. And Mark certainly didn’t have to go out of his way at work to put me in a room where I could wait by myself. But they did. It made an upsetting and scary situation a little less so. Sometimes the little things mean a lot. They did to me that day.
The Milk of Human Kindness (From the Kindness Blog)
Another great post first published by The Kindness Blog, written by Carmelene Melanie Siani.
My husband and I had parked just outside our favorite breakfast joint one Saturday morning to find a bunch of women clustered around the front gate to the old house next door.
“I wonder what they’re doing there,” I mused out loud.
They all looked — well, they were all clutching bags and bunches of “stuff” and had that homeless look about them — or at least quasi-homeless, bedraggled look about them.
“Good morning,” one of the women called out to me as we passed.
“Good morning,” I responded, along with something about how it was a beautiful day which encouraged so many of the others to chime in with yes it was and definitely and take care as I walked by.
They were telling me to take care? From the almost uniform front-teeth-missing look of them, I could tell. I’d have plenty of “take care” in my life.
I began digging in my purse.
“Shoot,” I told my husband. I don’t have enough $1 to go around.”
After breakfast, the line in front of the gate was gone and I told my husband I was going inside.
“Maybe there’s somebody who can break up these $20’s and spread it around.
Inside, the living room/dining room and entry hall was filled with cots. Women were sleeping, sorting through clothes, talking and laughing. There was an air of conviviality about the whole place — like it was a girls’ club of sorts. The whole place smelled like Tide laundry soap.
“Hi. Is there someone in charge?” I asked.
When you come face to face with unconditional love, you know it.
“Thank you,” the nun said to me. “But I need milk. I don’t have a car and I need milk. Can you keep the money and get me some milk?
About 15 minutes later, as we walked back in the door, I called out laughingly
“Man coming! Man coming!” while my husband teased that he wasn’t a “man,” he was the guy bringing milk.
“You know how I know she’s a nun?” I asked my husband as we were pulling away.
“How?
“She has an uncomplicated face.”
As I handed her the milk, she looked directly at me and I am not exaggerating that her pale, blue eyes were deep as pools. Peaceful, quiet pools. Pools filed with unconditional love.
On the gate outside my husband took a picture of the poster nailed there.
“SISTER’S ROSA HOUSE.”
I hadn’t seen that poster on our way in — but I didn’t need to. On my way out, I knew I had met somebody — probably somebody called Sister Rosa.
Agape. It’s not a big fancy Latin word. It’s a word that looks like a sign on the door that says here’s a safe place, a place where you can wash your clothes and get a bag lunch and sleep without being disturbed.
“It’s a place where you can get milk,” my husband said.
“The milk of human kindness from Sister Rosa,” I responded.
Amen, Sister.
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Couragious Forgiveness
Here is an awesome thought from Betty..
Sometimes, it takes raw courage to forgive.
This is an ongoing theme in my life. Forgiving, even when it hurts (me). Looking back, I see a line of courageous forgivers. The Amish families who lost their children. Corrie Ten Boom. And further back in history, Stephen (early church deacon who was stoned to death for his faith).
The troubles of my past pale in comparison. But they still hurt. The human reaction for most of us is to hold on to them. To hate the one who hurt us. To punish the perpetrator through our ongoing hate.
Deep inside, I know that kind of possessive unforgiveness hurts me more than anyone else. Those who committed the worst things that ever happened to me are dead now. They’ve met their fate, and they met it without my spoken forgiveness. I came to this knowledge too late. But I have now forgiven…
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Jennifer Hallmark 