God,

Today, I will be kind.

I will offer words of kindness to someone.

I will do a deed of kindness without the expectation of gratitude or reward.

I will present a kind countenance to someone when all that is needed is a smile.

I will practice kindness so that I can get better at it.

I will be kind to a stranger, rather than walking by without even noticing.

I will be kind to my family, rather than giving them the worst part of me (which I often do because I know they will love me anyway).

I will be kind to a coworker, knowing that they are carrying burdens I do not even know about.

I will be kind to someone who is unkind to me. I am to be like you, not like that other person. I cannot put them in charge of my behavior.

God, I know that the gospel is more than kindness, and that there are tables that need overturning in temples and prophetic words that need preaching. I am not naïve enough to believe it is the answer to all the world’s problems.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted…” (Eph 4:32)

But it is one thing I know I can do today, so I choose not to miss the opportunity. Melt my hardened heart that I might be kind. Amen.