Essential Jesusಮಾದರಿ

Do Unto Others

When I was living in Canada, the church I went to encouraged us to do something they called pay it forward, or random acts of kindness. The idea is simple and, as Jesus said, it’s a great way to put our faith into action. It involved us thinking up practical things to do for others without them knowing. The ideas included visiting a children’s hospital and purchasing gift vouchers at the coffee cart for parents and staff to receive complimentary drinks. We gave muffins out to shift workers on Sundays to thank them for their work in our community. We also thought up ways to bless people in our church community, and family, friends, and neighbors, with a note of encouragement and a practical gift left anonymously.

The unexpected kindness brought spontaneous joy to those who were on the receiving end and for those giving. Just like the Bible passage says, it’s become a rule-of-thumb behavior for me as I’ve continued this practice back home in Australia. It’s fun to do with kids or even just as you go about your day-to-day life. You can start by thinking about what small kindness you would appreciate, then exploring whether there’s someone who might be encouraged by you extending that kindness to them. Jesus says this sums up a lot of what the Bible is about–discovering the compassionate love of God and sharing it with others. Let’s both you and I choose some pay it forward, random act of kindness we can do today. It’s sure to make your day more wonderful as well as the person you bless. Have fun!

Written by KATH HENRY