As Karen brought her grief and despair to God, He began to give her a new purpose. Mike had planned well and taken care of his family. She was comfortable and secure, but she knew other widows who weren’t so blessed. As she started taking her eyes off her circumstances and reaching out to those around her, her own heart began to heal.

Karen began looking for opportunities to extend kindness to others, especially women alone. She visited, took them to lunch or on outings, sent cards, and even gave anonymous gifts of money. Her quiet acts of kindness blessed many lives, and her thoughtfulness provided a model for those around her. Karen’s legacy would be not one of crippling loss but of lives touched for Christ.

God’s Word calls us to be kind to the needy (Prov. 14:31), to speak kind words (Prov. 12:25), and to be kind to one another (Eph. 4:32). Choosing to be kind can be as simple as giving a smile or hug, holding a door, or helping with a grocery bag. Or it can require a sacrifice of money, time, and skills. Opportunities abound for those who let God give them direction. Lifestyle habits of kindness can open doors for building relationships, sharing our faith, or becoming a person of influence. It can become an ongoing adventure that brings double blessing to the obedient believer as well as the recipient. What can you do today to speak God’s kindness to someone in your life?