Overflowing Kindness
- Heather Williams
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Have the courage to be Kind
At the end of my daughter’s dance camp in July 2026, she was given the “Sweet as Candy” paper plate award for being the kindest camper. She treated her counselors and dance instructors with respect. She listened to instructions and gave it her best effort and attitude. She was courteous towards the other campers.
Is that the beginning and end to being kind? Is it just intentionally doing good and being friendly towards others? While being kind-hearted is a wonderful trait, and it’s something I admire in my daughter— I still believe that kindness as a fruit of the Holy Spirit has more depth.
When I think of deeper kindness, I think of Rachel Saint [sister of Nate Saint] and Elizabeth Elliot [wife of Jim Elliot] who after Nate and Jim were brutally murdered by headhunters chose to forgive and build relationships with Dayuma and the Aucas. Ultimately, God used that situation to rescue the man who threw the spear of death. This is Compassion!
“bless and show kindness to those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Luke 6:28 AMP
“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; [Matt 5:44; Rom 12:20]”
Proverbs 25:21 AMP
Still, another aspect of true kindness involves time and effort put forth to “see”others. In many tribal cultures saying “I see you” is highly valued. My personal favorite is the Zulu word “Sawubona”. It literally translates “‘I see you.’ With added cultural context, it’s more than a casual greeting. It signifies deep respect, acknowledging another person’s presence, worth and dignity”. The traditional reply is “Shiboka” meaning “I exist for you” or “I am here for you”. (“Sawubona, int. and n." Dictionary of South African English. Dictionary Unit for South African English, 2025. Web. 22 July 2026.).
Because God is a Good, Good Father; two instances while Jesus walked the Earth remind me that Jesus sees us.
First in John 4, when Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman drawing water from a well at noon— far later than all the other women and children drew water because she was looked down upon and had a “reputation”. If YKYK. She avoided her community because of shame. Before Jesus convicted her of her sin and forgave her; He saw her. He truly saw her. Not only did He see her heartaches, pain and striving to fill emptiness that only Jesus’ living water could fill— He saw her value, her worth, and her beauty. After her experience with Jesus, she was completely changed. She told everyone about the one who saw her and cleansed her from all unrighteousness.
Second in John 21, Jesus unrecognized by the disciples cooked a breakfast of fish and bread on the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus asks Peter three different ways “how much do you love me?”. Each time Jesus asked him this question, he saw Peter’s broken contrite heart, deep sorrow and pain of regret. He recognized both the pain of His own rejection when Peter denied Him three times and Peter’s desire for forgiveness and restoration to a right relationship with Jesus. This is why Jesus told Peter to “Feed my Lambs” three times. Jesus didn’t just see Peter’s past failures. Jesus saw Peter’s new identity in Christ. He changed Peter’s identity from Simon-[the one who denied Jesus three times] to Peter- [the rock on whom I will build my church.]
Kindness is more than random acts of goodness. It is taking time and effort to see the value of hurting, broken people and restoring them to a right relationship with their Creator.
As we discovered with joy, peace, and patience; kindness as a fruit of the Holy Spirit goes beyond wishing good blessings on others. It’s more than an empty “how are you” and walking on by.
True kindness requires slowing down and investing in others, being willing to listen and help. It requires surrendering control of my hands, my eyes and my ears and letting the Holy Spirit use them.
~heather joy aka ThePonderingPosie
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