...be kind...generously so...

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.   Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.   Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” Ephesians 4: 1-2, 32.

Kindness is a beautiful human gift from God. For me it’s rooted in the love and generosity of The Lord.  Whenever we encounter someone who is kind, we know that we are blessed.  Kind people help us to grow in kindness.  They inspire us to grow in kindness.  But no one more than The Lord inspires kindness — indeed He calls us — to be kind people in life.

Years ago when I was a young man I lived in Maine with the Flanagans, the family of my best friend, David.  His father, Jud, owned and operated a Lumber and Building Supply Company.  One winter I worked with him alone, and at mid-day on a cold, snowy and blustery Saturday, we closed at noon after Jud gave me instructions to load the truck for the two of us to make a delivery on our way home.   We pulled off the main highway and drove through the woods hoping we would not get stuck in the snow.  Finally we pulled into the yard where an old trailer stood, and waiting for us in the cold snow were three or four of Jud’s best friends — giant men who worked as carpenters.   For the next two hours we pulled insulation from the truck and insulated the floors and walls and ceiling of the trailer.   We put in new floors and panelling on the walls, pulled out all of the old windows and replace them with new windows.   And finally we installed a brand new wood burning stove.   Just as we finished, another large truck pulled into the yard and dumped a couple of cords of seasoned fire wood in the driveway.  We stacked them underneath the trailer and then headed home.

When Jud came home he gave his wife, Pat, the usual amount of cash to buy groceries for a large family for the week.  This week, however, he was a few hundred dollars short, and he then explained to his wife that the lumber yard has a quiet week and this was all he could bring home.   But I knew that just as we left the trailer to come home, Jud reached into his pocked and gave the poor family $200 in cash and told me on the way home to say nothing to anyone — especially his wife — about what we just did for that family.

No one in my life has taught me more about generosity and kindness than Jud Flanagan.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Dear Lord, help us to be kind and generous — and never count the personal cost.  When You bring people into our lives who need help, may we always be kind and generous to them, just as You are to each of us every day of our lives.   May we never tire of helping others — of loving them as You love us.   May we always remember the new commandment You gave us on the night before you died:  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” John 13; 34-35.

Post Script: This story came to mind today on my 71st birthday. Jud was profoundly influential in my life, and continues to be long after his death.