What would happen if you and your family committed to doing one act of kindness each day for a year? Our world desperately needs more kindness. Whether it’s on social media, in the news, or between your arguing kids it can seem like conflict and disconnection are everywhere. But imagine how much better life would be if we got intentional about being kind!
Authors Kristin Demery, Kendra Roehl, and Julie Fisk share about how to leave a legacy of kindness in The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional. Read on to discover the kind of love that is possible with daily acts of kindness that will change your heart, inspire your family, and draw you closer to God…
As mothers, the three of us are fully aware of our world’s need for kindness. We see the need in our communities, at our schools, echoing through the halls of power, and whispering in our churches. As parents, intentional kindness has become a concrete, tangible way for us to weave Micah 6:8 into the fabric of our families. In fact, this verse has become our heartbeat, the measuring stick against which we strive to align our lives: “What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (ESV)
Kindness is a legacy rooted in the traditions of our own parents, who quietly and intentionally blessed those who crossed their paths. In doing this, they laid a foundation for us.
One of our favorite fall acts of kindness is a tradition begun by Julie’s mother-in-law. Every fall, she sends each of her grandchildren to school with an envelope addressed to their teacher. Inside the envelope is an encouraging handwritten note and a check to be used on whatever the teacher needs for his or her classroom. Two years ago, one kindergarten teacher used this money to buy a graduation cake, fully decorated with a graduation cap and school colors. Doting parents and grandparents joined the kindergartners in their happy celebration.
Some of the funds in these envelopes have been used for specialized bilingual materials in immersion classrooms. Other years, we simply don’t know how those funds were quietly used. Every year is different, but the response is always one of gratitude and thanks for the quiet support, both emotionally and financially.
That check with a note—a simple thing, really—reminds us that kindness is taught more by what we do than by what we say. And this should give us hope. Because when our children or grandchildren see us being compassionate, they, too, are more likely to be compassionate. When they see us doing something about injustice around us, they will be more likely to do something about it as well. And when our children see us loving others—including those who are very different from us or perhaps even our enemies—they are more likely to love, too.
This is the beauty of intentional kindness. Small gestures performed with love often have an outsized impact that ripples far beyond the gesture itself.
One small act each day creates a habit that can change the course of a life. That’s our hope and prayer for each reader as they read our new book, The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional. In it, we offer daily encouragement and inspiration about small acts of kindness done with great love. With concrete ideas for showing kindness to friends, neighbors, and strangers, we hope you’ll be able to cultivate not only a habit of kindness but also a legacy that will last for years to come.
From The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional
This year, embark on a journey to make kindness a part of your life, home, and soul. In The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional, you’ll find Scripture passages and inspirational personal stories about why God calls us to show kindness, what it means to live a life of generosity, and how you can incorporate kindness into your everyday routine (and teach it to your kids) with tons of simple, easy-to-do ideas. Show your world the kind of love that is possible with daily acts of kindness that will change your heart, inspire your family, and draw you closer to God.
Learn more HERE>>
