I was recently watching a program on TV, and I heard someone make the following statement:

“You know … there is no doubt in my mind that kindness is the most underrated superpower.”

In the dictionary, kindness is defined in this way …

“It is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.”

The Value of Kindness

A few weeks ago, I was traveling through the Houston George Bush Airport where I observed an act of kindness. An elderly lady who spoke little English was slowly wandering around in Terminal C, which is spacious but often very busy.

As she stared at her ticket, she paused in the middle of the concourse. At some point, she made her way to the display screens that provide the flight information. A passenger observed the lady having a tough time finding her gate and offered to help.

I was about 20 feet away, so I also approached the lady. The elderly passenger spoke only Spanish, so I helped with the translation. In just a few seconds, we determined she was in the wrong terminal.

We quickly found a driver operating a motorized cart to get the fragile lady straight to her gate. Luckily, the driver spoke Spanish, so we were in good shape.

If you think about it, this act of kindness only took a few minutes, but it made a huge difference to the senior citizen. In just a short time, she went from a state of desperation to flashing a beautiful smile and being thankful that a couple of strangers offered to help her.

Kindness Creates Momentum

I’ve noticed that kindness is a chain reaction. To make it happen, someone must start it.

Here are some ways I can practice kindness …

  • When I see someone with limited physical capabilities, I can offer to return the shopping cart to the supermarket corral.
  • When I observe a student struggling to understand an assignment, I can ask if a one-on-one Zoom call would be beneficial.
  • When a friend’s spouse is hospitalized, I can offer to sit-in with the significant other so he can get a break.
  • When an acquaintance is having a difficult time with a child, I can make time to listen to her concerns.
  • When a friend is having car problems, I can offer to give him a ride to work.
  • When I observe a stranger crying, I can ask if there is anything I can do to help.
  • When a church friend asks if I can substitute for an adoration hour, I can be thankful for the inquiry and do everything possible to meet this request.

Proverbs 16:23-24 describes the value of kindness in the best way …

“From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Oftentimes, the beauty of kindness has nothing to do with a money transaction. It is using small countless opportunities every day to show generosity to others.

Kindness is a wave that keeps rolling … it just needs one of us to kickstart it!