Kindness can be
as simple as a smile directed at a stranger—that includes children, who are
often overlooked as the individuals they are.
It can be retrieving a dropped item not noticed by a fellow shopper, or
while walking through a parking lot.
Kindness can be allowing someone to go in front of you in the check-out
lane when your basket is full and they only have three items in their hands; it
is taking the time to listen when someone is in need of “an ear;” it is sharing
yourself with another, just because you can.
The opportunities to express kindness are endless.
They are so abundant I could not possibly
list them all here. Some expressions of
kindness are more personal than others.
For example, writing a check is not to be reviled in any way shape or
form but, face it, it is less personal than a one-on-one experience with a
fellow human being which usually leaves an imprint on the heart. The kindnesses
to which I refer are those born out of expressing the best side of our humanity
face to face, soul to soul.
There are those
who might say I’m not referring to kindness at all, but rather compassion,
generosity, and love. I
think kindness embodies all of those qualities.
It is the physical and emotional manifestation of our basic Unity
Principles. It is a reflection of the
teachings of Christ. It is our
Christ-self in action. The surprising
benefit is--or maybe it’s not surprising at all--t feels good when put it into
practice.
We have just
celebrated our best and most unique holiday in our country, Thanksgiving. Gratitude and kindness—things we generally
put into practice at Thanksgiving—go hand-in-hand.
It comes fairly easily to most of us at this
time of year, and now as we slip into the holiday season we are reminded time
and again that this is a time of giving, and gratitude, and love. Wouldn’t it be lovely if we focused on these
positive approaches as we move through this holiday season?
Wouldn’t it be lovely if we decided to create
a touch-stone called “kindness” to use throughout the holiday season and
throughout the coming year?
I have a
suspicion that most of us have something we would like to improve upon in our
lives, or in the world. Perhaps taking
the idea of kindness and incorporating it into your daily life could be your
contribution to achieving that goal. I’m
sure you’ve heard the term, “practical Christianity” when it comes to our Unity
teaching. It is what many people say
Unity is.
I’d like to suggest that from
this day forward we each start practicing kindness, toward one another as well
as toward ourselves.
Meditate on this as
we move through December and into the New Year.
Contemplate the wonderful and selfless act of kindness. Then, put it into practice and give yourself
the best Christmas present anyone could ever receive. Love.
Namaste :)
Kate Morgan for Unity of Charlotte
