A Year of Being Kind blog post – Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Day One – A Snowy Day
When I woke up this gray morning, I saw snow. Light, fluffy snow. A brisk, chilly day. I brushed off the car and got ready to leave. As I drove to my friend’s house, I observed the beauty of the parkway along McCormick Road. White, almost pristine. Faint sparkles caught my eye as I looked at the snowy landscape. I thought of my fresh, new year, spread out before me. Like a wide, snowy expanse that hasn’t been walked on yet.
Since this is New Year’s Day, a holiday, my car was one of the very few cars on the road. Strange to be out after eight o’clock in the morning in suburban Chicago and to see the streets almost deserted. I could have just stayed home too, but I chose to be out and about. One of my friends had asked me to take her on several errands this morning. It was so good to see her! We had a wonderful time together. And, I was very glad to be of service, be available for my friend.
As a matter of course, I often focus on acts of service from time to time during any particular week. But 2014 is slightly different. I will be intentionally pursuing (looking for?) acts of service for each day. That’s every day this year. Moreover, I am choosing a verse from the Bible to use as a background for each month of service in 2014. Another way of thinking about my choice of verse is as subtext to my month’s service, as well as for my month’s blogs. For January, the verse I have chosen is Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”
I’ve planned each month to focus on a different aspect of service. I wanted to concentrate on being kind this month. (As long as my blog is titled “A Year of Being Kind,” I did wish to start the year in that way.) I’ve been told a number of times that I often act in a naturally kind and tenderhearted manner. When the idea for this whole concept came to me earlier in December, I felt that it was so natural for me! Helping one of my friends was natural, too. A joy, in fact.
I don’t want this year of service to devolve into “shoulds” and “obligations.” That’s the last thing I want, to be forced to do something simply because I said I would. I have a feeling I will need to be reminded about this, but that’s okay. (I hereby give anyone the permission to remind me, whenever I gripe.) I want this Year of Being Kind to be a year of opportunity for me. I have asked God-as-I-understand-God for opportunities to help others and be of service, but also to be gifted with opportunities for me. For my personal growth and development, too.
Yes, it will be a journey. A daunting, exciting, up-and-down journey. Will you come along with me? I have no idea what lies ahead. Oh, right. A year of service!
A Year of Being Kind 