Ministry

Kindness and Mercy

Ephesians 4.32

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you”

When I landed in Perth, my first time in Australia, on an early morning in June, I was not ready for winter weather. All I knew was that Broome was warm and so I was dressed for that warm weather. I knew I had to take a bus from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 where I would catch a Qantas flight to Broome. What I did not know was that Terminal 3 opened its doors at 3.30am. Otherwise, I would not have taken a bus from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 at 3.00am in the middle of winter. When I was dropped at the doors of the terminal, I was left to come to terms with the biting cold of a June winter, wearing a t-shirt. That I was shivering, was clear to a lady passerby who showed me mercy and came to my aid. She guided me to Terminal 4 which was open at that time and went on her way despite my offering to buy her a cup of coffee.

A stranger merciful and kind to me. Using the story of the good Samaritan, Jesus addresses the topic of being kind and merciful in a spontaneous kind of way. That is being kind and merciful to others, not because they are your friends, classmates, buddy group mate or related to you. Just be kind!

A merciful person is willing to be kind to and forgive others.

What kindness is:

Kindness is the act of being friendly, generous, and considerate to others. It is something that can have a profound effect on both the giver and the receiver.

Kindness is the act of going out to help others without expecting anything in return.

Kindness is a positive trait, that can have a ripple effect, inspiring others to be kind as well.

Why kindness is important:

Creates a positive and supportive environment.
Reduce stress
Increase happiness
Improve overall wellbeing.
Promote empathy and understanding.

Simple acts of kindness you can do today:

Smile, say hello
Hold the door open
Give a compliment
Help someone in need
Pay it forward-random act of kindness
Volunteer your time
Send a thank you note
Offer words of encouragement
Listen without judgement
Practice self-kindness

The campus provides us with an opportunity to practice kindness and mercy.

Let us be kind and merciful to one another.

Simion Mutai

College Chaplain