Nancy Taylor Tate
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12
There is a place I go to shop that, because of the way the parking lot fans around, it can be challenging to find your car if you don’t go out the exact door you went in.
It was a beautiful, hot, sunny, summer day. I had marked well in my mind the aisle where my car was parked. What I didn’t realize is that those same markings, because of the curve of the parking lot, can look similar from different exits, and I had come out a different door!
The hot sun was shining on the groceries in my cart. As I walked up and down aisle after aisle, I was hoping the hot sun wouldn’t spoil my food. A lady with a little boy saw me walking and was determined to help me find my car, but she couldn’t find it either.
Several other people tried to help. One person even offered to drive up and down the aisles until we found it. I thanked them but assured them it wasn’t necessary; I would find it soon. Finally, someone walking by said, “Are you sure you didn’t come out the other door?” I looked over and said, “Oh, no! I think you’re right!” I walked that way, and there was my car!
Later, as I shared my experience, I remarked that it was almost worth my wandering around in the hot sun, just to get a glimpse of the kindness I experienced that day! I was amazed and overwhelmed that people would try to help and be so kind, caring, and considerate … all this from total strangers!
How this contrasts with the meanness being reported in the news today! May we have eyes to see and be encouraged by the niceness that is also out there!
1 Corinthians talks about faith, hope, and love, the greatest being love. The King James translation uses the word charity instead of love. If you look up charity, it is the habit of being kind; being lenient in judging others.
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
I have a feeling those people who tried to help me that day were simply in the habit of being kind! Somehow, they happened to notice that I had a need, then took the time to try to help!
What kind of habits are we forming? A little kindness can go a long way to brighten someone’s day. Perhaps there’s someone you can help or encourage today! May we be a part of those who sow kindness, those who, like salt, add a flavor to the earth that the Lord can take pleasure in.
Lord, help us to be sensitive to the needs of others and lend a helping hand where we can.
Who knows, we may be the ones who need a helping hand someday! May we sow kindness, that we might reap it, should the need ever be ours.