Surprised by Kindness
by Michele Husfelt on January 31, 2022
In my quest to be kind and discover kindness in my tiny sliver of the world this year, I’ve been on the lookout for opportunities to demonstrate kindness as well as notice when presented with a choice, how others opt for a kind response.
Sitting in the parking lot after collecting my drive-thru order, I realized the sauce I requested was not in the bag. Rather than walk in disgruntled and let them know they messed up my order, I chose to be kind and simply requested a sauce. A small gesture not to point out someone’s error has not always been my go-to response.
A small gesture not to point out someone’s error has not always been my go-to response.
I signed into the clinic for blood work. With Covid protocol, I was directed back to my car to wait for the tech to call when it was my turn. Minutes ticked by and at the 30-minute mark, I wanted to go in and politely yet firmly let her know this wait time wasn’t acceptable. I had important tasks to accomplish, I muttered to myself. (To be honest, I really didn’t. I was headed home to put away Christmas decorations and organize my chaotic home; perhaps she was actually doing me a favor?) Thankfully the thought of kindness overtook me and I chose to continue to wait. She called a few minutes later apologizing for the wait. It was noon and I was her 27th patient today. She was slammed. As I left, she apologized once again and thanked me for being so patient. An extra few minutes of wait-time on my part led to a sweet conversation and a little encouragement to a weary healthcare worker.
Another act of kindness I read about this week was much more profound than my small attempts to be kind. This story reveals the ultimate gesture of kindness as one man chose to forgive his brother for terrible acts of deceit and betrayal. After taking advantage of his famished brother, coercing him into selling his birthright, and then cheating him out of his father’s blessing, Jacob fled for his life, knowing Esau was planning to kill him. Years later as Jacob was returning to Canaan, he saw Esau coming towards him in the distance with 400 men. Anticipating and planning for the worst, Jacob eventually went ahead of his family, bowed to the ground as he approached Esau, and prepared to offer many gifts in exchange for being accepted. Much to his surprise, Esau “ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him” (Genesis 33:4). This was certainly not the greeting Jacob expected! We’re not told what brought about the change of heart for Esau but his kindness and forgiveness paint a poignant picture of the kindness and forgiveness characterized by God. Jacob responded to Esau’s stunning actions with a beautiful proclamation “indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me” (Genesis 33:10).
Much to his surprise, Esau “ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him.”
As Esau demonstrated, there is always a choice to be made to respond kindly or otherwise. Reflecting on Paul’s thoughts throughout Philippians, his admonition for us to rejoice and be joyful was born out of his own experience in choosing a right response to a situation he faced. The decision to rejoice or be joyful (or be kind) is not a natural response to difficult circumstances. Chained inside a prison and suffering every hardship, Paul had to consciously choose joy. The more we practice a right response, the more easily it will come, but there will still be a decision that must be made. As Jesus continues to conform me to His image, may I be mindful of opportunities to choose kindness as my right response.