The man instructing our group of volunteers at Our Calling told us, “Be gracious and kind,” as we prepared to help homeless men and women get out of the freezing temps and into a hotel room for the night. I had received the notificiation to serve at the Dallas-based homeless ministry Our Calling the day before via an email sent from VOMO-a volunteer management software developer based in McKinney.
Through the collaborative efforts of multiple people serving in different capacities across a number of organizations, 200 homeless people had the opportunity to sleep in a warm bed, take a hot shower, and get off the street for a night. My role in all this was simple: be gracious and kind.
Be gracious and kind.
Wayne Walker, CEO | Our Calling
Those words have had a profound effect on me in the days that followed. Each day, I’ve thought about ways that I can be gracious and kind. How can I demonstrate the love that Jesus showed me to others?
Being gracious and kind reminds me of my longtime friend and mentor, Paul Vinyard, who repeatedly modeled this mantra to me and those fortunate to cross his path. “Always be gracious and kind,” I can hear him saying. “Never mistreat anyone.”
We are, after all, each created in the image of God. When we treat each other badly, we’re not only destroying our witness, but we’re dishonoring the God who gave us life.
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
Being gracious and kind doesn’t cost us anything, while being a jackwagon costs us more than we often see. When you treat people badly they don’t tend to risk letting you know. They just cease interacting with you. I’ve seen this played out in business relationships, in church, and among people who were once friends. People will usually forgive you once, even twice. But at some point, they move on. Treating people right matters. Being gracious and kind makes a huge difference.
This last week, my wife, Sweet T was overwhelmed with joy when a co-worker treated her with graciousness and kindness. Her coworker blessed her with a thoughtful gift to encourage her and to let her know she mattered. We all like to feel we are seen and heard. Each of us likes to have a sense that we are valued and that we matter.
Those who are less fortunate often feel invisible; unseen and unheard. Most of you have seen the viral video of the California restaurant owner who expressed her frustration after feeling unseen and unheard amid the COVID pandemic.
It’s a difficult time for us everywhere. We could all benefit from some graciousness and kindness. If not now, when?
It is, after all, the season to be gracious and kind.
Reflection Questions:
- What can you do to be gracious and kind to someone today?
- Do you recall when someone was gracious and kind to you? How did it impact your day?
- Is there someone in your neighborhood who would benefit from you being gracious and kind to them today?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being gracious and kind to me. Help me seize opportunties to be gracious and kind to others in return. Help me see where I can make a difference in someone’s life today by simply being gracious and kind. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
When you and I are gracious and kind, we are modeling the very attributes of God.
Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)
I encourage you to go visit your local independently-owned neighborhood restaurant this week. Your presence will make a tremendous difference in the lives of those depending on your patronage to earn their living.
Praying for God’s continued blessings and favor upon your life. Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave a comment below and let me know you were here. I love hearing from my readers.
The Devotional Guy™
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I personally believe that in order to experience life the way God intended, you and I must receive God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ, God has made this gift available to all who ask.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13
Will you personally receive the gift of eternal life so that you can experience the total forgiveness from your sins that come through believing in the atoning death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
The Devotional Guy™ 
This is good advice, Rainer: “Be gracious and kind.”
Another blogger quoted the actor Dick Van Dyke, who said of his remarkable career, the secret was to, “Work hard, and be nice.”
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Thanks. David. I think when we are gracious and kind we emulate God’s treatment of us. The Lord is gracious and kind. I like that Van Dyke quote. It served him well. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to read my post.
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