But if anyone
has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart
against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
1 John 3:17
Kindness
means “tender concern” and when exhibited, it results in being benevolent and
useful to others. Because we have kindness and tender concern, we want to take
action and help the person who is in need.
The
Bible instructs us that kindness is a fruit of the Spirit—the result of
allowing the Holy Spirit to develop maturity in us. Shaun Groves, while
traveling with Compassion International learned from a kind pastor in Nicaragua.
Read as Shaun shares his experience:
Many miles outside the city of Managua, Nicolausa bends at the
waist, plodding through refuse in her green flip flops, rummaging with bare
hands, searching for treasure in the trash. A million flies search alongside
her…
“I’m here fighting for us, trying to survive working here” she
says…
Down a bumpy dirt road from the dump, an oscillating fan stands
still in a church office. I sit on the edge of the desk so I can look Pastor
Dennis in the eyes. He tells the story of Compassion center NI155 in percussive
Spanish…with thick hands and easy laughter…
“We named this center Hands of Compassion. Our logo is two
hands. In one is the Bible to symbolize the Word of God we give children. In
the other hand is a cup to symbolize how we serve children.”…
Pastor Dennis and his twenty-one volunteers bend over school
books laid open on little desks, over a hot stove stirring chicken and rice,
over a child running a fever.
They bend down beside little ones digging for plastic beside
grandmother and invite them away from the dump, into hope, to join Compassion’s
program—to receive nutrition, healthcare, education and Jesus. They find
treasures in the trash and fight for their survival…
“There is no greater satisfaction than helping people find
change,” Pastor Dennis says before we hug goodbye. “When I see children change
I just say ‘Wow!’ That’s God’s grace.”
“With Compassion we have
become like this.” He fans out his fingers and then brings his hands together,
clasping each other. “To do the work of God on earth together.”
Lord, help us to look with compassion on those around us and
respond with the kindness You have given us through Your Spirit.
