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Listen while you read: "God Who Made The Earth"1
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Ephesians 4:32a – Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (NIV)
When my husband John was still here, we used to go on short-term mission trips. These trips were four to six weeks long. We were very aware that we could not accomplish a lot in that short time period, but our prayer was that the group would be encouraging to the native people who lived in the communities.
One of life's most valuable lessons that I learned on a trip to Brazil was what an act of kindness is. We tell ourselves that it needs to involve much time and money. Christ tells us that it is simply giving something to eat, a cup of water, an invitation, a visit, or any help needed. On this trip, our group was helping to finish a kindergarten school.
John worked on electrical problems, and I worked with women and children. I had taken a quilt that needed to be sewn together. The head of carpentry was kind to make some quilting frames for the job. A number of ladies who wanted to learn to sew sat around the quilt.
As a nurse, I did assessments with my stethoscope on the children's lungs. I had a chart to check eyesight. Evaluations were given to the people in charge of the school for follow-up. Brazil did not have healthcare as we know it in Canada, so I had to have faith that the children with eyesight impairment would sit at the front of the class.
When the time was coming for our team to leave, I said to John, "We should give our helpers a gift for their work." There was a box filled with jeans with many holes. Salvaging what was good, I was able to make enough gift bags out of pieces cut from the legs of the jeans. I found good quality string for the ties on the tops. We had hygiene products in the health room, so John and I bought products from the mission for men and women and filled the bags.
On the last evening before we left, we held an appreciation program. John gave out the bags. It was wonderful to see the faces of those opening their bags. When all the bags had been opened, one young woman stood up and said, "I did not have any more paper left, and I asked Jesus this morning if He would please give me more." We had put a little pad of paper with a pencil and a pen in the bags, not knowing this woman's need. What I took for granted was a real need to her.
I have a magnet on the filing cabinet in my office that I look at many times through the year. It says, "No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted." Only God knows this wise saying's author, whom I should thank.
Let us not take any of God's blessings for granted, and let's do acts of kindness to family, friends, and neighbours.
Prayer: Father in heaven, help us to be aware of kindness that we can show to others. Help us to live Jesus Christ to those with whom we come in contact, being thankful for Calvary and our Saviour. Amen.
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About the author:
Ruth Rowe <ruthjohn.rowe@gmail.com>
Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada
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Thank you.
Amen Ruth.
May it be so, Ruth.
Amen, Ruth! Blessings.
So true. Thank you for reminder.
What a wonderful inspirational story, Ruth! Thanks and blessings!
Thank you, Ruth, for a very meaningful devotion. Your ‘mission‘ illustration was very good.
Thank you for your devotional Ruth.
Amen to that.
Blessings.
What a lovely and inspiring story. Thank you. I believe the author of that little saying was Mother Teresa, or so I was told in the past. Simple yet powerful. [Editor’s note: It is actually from Aesop’s fable of the Lion and the Mouse.]
Ruth thanks for sharing your experience. It is a wonderful reminder that no act of kindness is too small.
Grateful for your words.
(BC)
Hi Ruth
Thank you for your devotional today. So true and encouraging to me and I am sure many others.
Blessings.
Hello Ruth, I was blessed to read your devotional titled Acts of Kindness! Thanks for blessing me one of the daily readers of the Presbycan Daily with today’s devotional.
Be blessed in your work through 2022.
(Ontario)
Dear Ruth,
Here’s a similar quote:
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
MOTHER TERESA
(ON)
O Ruth, you are continuing your ‘kindness’ in sharing this lovely story with us! The love between you and these people with whom you shared it, REALLY COMES through. I like to think of you there in Elliot Lake!! for goodness sakes! and know you are exactly where God wants you to be right now! Yay for blooming where we’re planted! Yay for you.
Beautiful devotional Ruth! Yes, kindness to one another, even in the smallest way can go a long, long way in another person’s life. Presently the way our world is right now, much kindness and consideration of each other is really needed and may we be very mindful to spread the love we receive from our loving Lord. Blessings for these special writings you do.
Dear Ruth,
I smiled and smiled more as I read your devotional this morning. I thought it was going to be about forgiveness from your quote. I was wrong. I could feel your love and warmth for others as I read about your mission in Brazil.
The cherry on the top was when the woman told about her prayer being answered for some paper.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and encouraging all of us that no act of kindness is too small. It all is important. Even the hello and smile we might give to someone as we pass them on the street.
May we be grateful for all God’s blessings and may we follow his lead and pass them along. May you enjoy all the acts of kindness you receive and give. Blessings.
Thank you, Ruth, for your encouraging word. Every Saturday, my Mexican “daughter” and I have breakfast together. I have been her Mom for about 50 years, and my Dutch daughter is her “identical twin sister.” Dementia is taking over and we are trying our best to keep a good watch over her as most of her family don’t see what is happening. She and her husband spent years in ministries and eventually began a home ministry for the children around them who were not taken to church by parents. They gave so much of themselves until the Lord took him home. She started downhill and withdrew from activities.
There is always help needed, not always seen, or known by us, but the Lord will lead us to the right place where we can be of help even though we may never know how He has us. We have to make sure we are spiritually ready. I can’t jump in my car anymore, but my iPhone is a miracle worker along with the always be ready prayers. God bless you beyond as you share.
(California)
Thank you so much for that Ruth. I really enjoyed that story.