A few days ago, I was listening to a sermon by Charles Stanley titled, The Attractive Quality of Kindness, and I wanted to share with you what I learned.

Are You a Kind Person?

In the sermon, Stanley asks the following questions:

  • Do you think you are a kind person?
  • Would those who are closest to you agree with your assessment?

Let’s start with learning more about kindness and what it means.

It is defined as a virtue representing behavior that demonstrates high moral standards. For example, we show kindness when we are friendly, generous, and considerate.

Unexpected Story on Kindness

For the past 8 years, the pest control company we use has dispatched the same technician, Dennis, to our home. He is a friendly person who always carries a smile, and he makes sure to ask if there are any special areas inside and outside the home that need to be treated.

You can tell he cares about his customers, and often calls us by name.

A few years ago, he rang the doorbell, and I answered. We engaged in a short conversation about the weather and the treatment for that day. He then said something which caught me off guard …

“I wanted to thank you for letting my manager know that you wanted me to stay as your technician. As you know, my territory has changed a bit, but I will continue serving your home.”

I responded by saying, “Sure, Dennis! We are happy to have you!”

When I closed the door, I went to my wife and asked if she had called the company to recommend Dennis because I did not remember doing it. She noted that I’m the person who handles this account, so it could not be her.

The point here is neither of us made the call, so we are unsure how it happened. However, this situation taught me a valuable lesson.

There is power in kindness!

The fact is Dennis felt appreciated and valued when he thought we had requested him to continue servicing our home. From all appearances, he valued this working relationship with us, and he was committed to going the extra mile.

Making Kindness Intentional

From this experience, I’ve learned to be intentional about sharing kindness today. It’s true, I fall short at times, but the improvement is notable.

To create a positive and peaceful environment, we must learn to notice the needs of those around us. We may be surprised how the simplest kind and encouraging words and actions can really change the atmosphere, as in the following examples…

  • “Daniel, thank you for sharing your wonderful story about your parents. It was beautiful!”
  • “Beth, your work ethic is tremendous, and we appreciate the value you bring to our company.”
  • “Fr. Mike, the sermon today was powerful and touching. Thank you so much for your dedication to our parish.”
  • “Son, we appreciate that you complete your chores on your own. This is a quality that will serve you well in many facets of your life. We love you!”
  • “Miss, can I help you with putting your groceries in the car. After all, it’s raining. Oh … let me also take your cart back.”

Takeaways

Let me leave you with some questions from the end of Charles Stanley’s sermon …

  • Are your interactions with your family kind?
  • Why is the home often the most difficult place to practice kindness?
  • What would your home look like if everyone was kind to one another?

In short, kindness, in your words and actions, creates a positive and peaceful environment, whether at home, at the office, or anywhere else.