Wise Words With... 

Kindness

Kindness is choosing to do something that helps others, it often means putting others first. Kindness involves treating others with compassion and showing generosity. In recognition of how important it is, kindness is one of our school virtues. It is a quality that we value and encourage in our students. 

Expressions of kindness at Nowra Christian School take many forms including: praying, listening well, offering kind words, demonstrating patience, giving genuine encouragement, saying thank you and helping with tasks. 

Kindness can be expressed in many contexts. Students show kindness to others in the playground, in class, during sporting activities, in the library, at bus lines, on excursions. Staff demonstrate kindness to each other in meetings, in staffrooms, lunch rooms, in classrooms. Parents demonstrate kindness in the carpark, in conversations as they pick up and drop off children, in helping in classrooms, in caring for those in need.  

The book of Proverbs, a collection of short sayings, has a great deal to say about kindness. The writer explains that those who show kindness experience blessing. "Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves." Also kindness is identified as one of the keys to living a meaningful life. “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness finds life, prosperity and honor." Those who are kind experience clear benefits to their well-being and happiness. 

Proverbs also explains that how we treat others, particularly the poor, directly relates to how we treat God. "Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God." and "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done." At NCS we believe these truths and so we have staff and students involved in activities that actively show kindness to those who are poor. 

Kindness is particularly important to Christians as it is included in the list of qualities the Holy Spirit works to produce in the lives of believers. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Christians are able to demonstrate kindness because of the enabling of the Holy Spirit. 

There is real power in being kind.