Showing Kindness

November 1, 2020

Bible Readings

Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.

Luke 6:35, Galatians 6:10, Colossians 3:12-13

Memory Verse

Ephesians 4:32

Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. (CEV)

written by Ron VandenBurg
illustrated by Chad Thompson

Casey is at the front door landing of her next-door neighbor, Mrs. Kapoor. She is holding a rake. Fall decorations are on the door and porch. It’s a beautiful fall day outside. It's windy, and leaves are in the air.
Mrs. Kapoor is holding the open door. She is an older Punjabi woman. Her cat is at her feet and looking up at Casey, who wears a mask and is physically distanced.
Mrs. Kapoor says, “Casey, you’ve been very kind to rake the leaves for me. Please wait here!” (The word “kind” is bolded and underlined in all three panels). In the image we see her urging Casey to stay with her hand up and pointing at Casey.

Mrs Kapoor returns and says, “I made some tasty samosas. I know how much you like them.” She has a plate with a plastic wrapping on top so that the audience can see what samosas are. Mrs. Kapoor wears a mask to protect herself as she puts the plate on a porch bench or table between them.
Since she has a mask on, we need to see in her body language that Casey is happy and excited. Casey says, “Yummy! That’s so kind of you, Mrs. Kapoor. Thank you so much.”

Casey’s back at her kitchen table. Dad and Mom, brother, and younger sister are sitting around the table and enjoying the treats with Casey. Mom says, “Thanks for sharing!” Victoria says, “Yum!” Jack is smiling with his mouth full as he grabs another. Casey is smiling, “No problem. It’s kind of easy.”

Print Comic

Does your family have neighbors that you love to do kind things for? Maybe you have helped mow their lawns, brought over meals when one of them was sick, or taken care of their pets when they were on vacation. Your neighbors might have returned those favors or lent your parents a cup of sugar, an egg, or a garden tool or maybe they helped move a big piece of furniture. Being kind to your neighbors is great! Having them be kind back to you is pretty great too.

Maybe you have had the chance to show kindness to other people as well. Maybe at school, you saw a kid in your class that needed a little help carrying a school project and you came alongside with a kind smile and took some of the load. Or maybe you helped your parents or siblings with big chores at home. We can show kindness in many different ways. And when we show kindness to other people, they often pass it along, by doing kind things for us or for someone else that needs it.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul challenged his friends to be kind to everyone they met. And not just one day and then not the next; he wanted them to do it all the time, just like Jesus had done. Jesus was kind to old and young people, sick and healthy people, and people that he knew well or didn’t know at all. He even showed kindness to people that weren’t kind to him. Let’s take on that challenge and show kindness to everyone that we meet today.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for teaching us about kindness. Help me show kindness today to everyone that I meet. Amen.

Related Resources

Kids In Action Episode

Emma's Bathbombs

Liz and Friends

The Stowaway: Scooter's Adventure Part 1

Activity

Gifts of Kindness Advent Calendar and Devotionals

Activity

Words of My Mouth

Bible Story

The Story of Dorcas

Bret Lamsma

Bret Lamsma is the Director of Faith Formation at First Christian Reformed Church in Denver, Colorado. He has also served churches in California and Michigan. He has a passion for youth ministry and intergenerational ministry in the local church. When he isn’t working at church or writing he enjoys hanging out with his wife and 2 children, hiking, woodworking, and watching movies.