Triggering a kindness revolution

And so it begins, the most wonderful time of the year. The holidays are stuffed full of family gatherings, feasts, presents, memories, and most importantly the celebration of our Savior’s birth. But, many of us tend to get carried away with the “Christmas spirit,” spending far more money then we had ever planned, justifying that it is always worth it to see our loved ones finally getting those items which they just “couldn’t live without.” The world around us is constantly scamming us into the belief that the more we have the happier we will be, which as Christians we know is false. Yet, we continually buy into those lies.

The reason for the season is not to get everything on your Christmas list, and many of us may say we know that, yet we are in no hurry to spend our precious three weeks break from school doing something different from the norm. Jesus lived to serve, Philippians 2:5-7 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Those verses clearly tell us that we should be the same as Christ Jesus, and to do that we must make ourselves nothing and take on the nature of a servant. This doesn’t mean serve when we feel like it or when our Beta Club sponsors tell us we have to, we must live and breathe as servants.

Servanthood is often a tough characteristic to master, especially when our sinful nature is constantly telling us that others should be doting on us instead. Often we come up with excuses like, “I will be a servant when I’m older.” “I’m too tired today, maybe tomorrow.” “I have no money, so I guess I’m off the hook for giving to others.” “I really need this money for that new car, I’ll support those starving children next year.” And if we haven’t said it verbally, we have all thought something of that sort before. So, now you may ask yourself, “how do I change my lifestyle and serve others with the little I have to give?”

Giving is not rocket-science. You don’t have to be rich to be a giver and you don’t have to be talented to serve others, all that matters is that your heart is in the right place. Martin Luther King Jr. said it perfectly, “Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” One random act of kindness could start something incredible. In our society it is so normal to be treated with rudeness and disrespect that it doesn’t even phase us anymore. Just imagine if each of us performed a daily act of kindness, think about how much of a difference we could make. As soon as you do something for someone else, they are going to want to do serve someone as well. This could lead to a chain reaction that would start a kindness revolution. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to be a part of something like that?

When we humble ourselves and realize that there are always people we can bless, God will bless us in return. Though we may not get literal blessings on earth, there will be an inheritance in heaven which we cannot even fathom. So, this Christmas I want to challenge you with a mission. Everywhere you go, everything you do, every person you interact with, search for an opportunity to serve. Who knows, maybe you will love it so much that it will become a life-long habit.

written:11:16.09