Before getting into specifics, let’s talk about why we should be kind.

According to the Bible, we should be kind to each other because God is kind to us. Ephesians 4:32 is the first time that kindness is mentioned in the Bible. Paul explicitly instructs the church in Ephesus to focus not only on being helpful but on being kind to everyone.

We can also find other passages in the Bible that emphasize the need for kindness among one another. In Galatians 5:22, it's said, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” 

Here, kindness is included as a fruit of the Spirit alongside love, joy, peace, forbearance, goodness, and faithfulness. In other words, God has given us a very important gift, and we should follow it because Jesus Christ has all of these characteristics.

As Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:32, we must also display compassion. In the original text, Paul uses the Greek word eusplanchnoi, which means to be “tender-hearted” or “compassionate.”

In this verse, Paul reminds believers against having a harsh attitude since Jesus Christ, as our teacher, is soft-hearted and compassionate. We're also reminded of the right way to act in the Good Samaritan Parable. Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan in the Bible, portraying a compassionate person who knows no boundaries, race, or political affiliations.

In a world where individuals only think about themselves, finding kind people is becoming more difficult. Kindness is a virtue every Christian should have. You don't have to wait around for others to show you kindness first. Whenever others need help, it’s our duty as Christians to speak to them gently and help. 

Helping others through kindness will open doors for you. Don't be afraid to reach out to those who are suffering and help them with small acts of kindness. You just might be a great blessing to them.

Many small things can brighten someone's day, and you can change someone's life with a single act of kindness. Here’s a list of ideas that might help you brighten someone's day, be it a stranger or a much-loved family member.

Kindness to loved ones 

1. Call your mom or dad just to say, “I love you.”
2. Research your family tree and share what you learned with other family members.
3. Attend an event of a family member’s child, such as a dance recital or sporting event.
4. Send a message to a loved one, letting them know you appreciate them.
5. Reconnect with family members you’ve lost touch with over the years. 
6. Share a memory of a loved one that’s passed away. 
7. Make amends with a loved one who you've wronged.
8. Do chores for a family member who could use some extra free time.
9. Let your spouse sleep in when it’s their turn to get up early with the kids.
10. Donate to a loved one’s favorite charity in their name.
11. Give a loved one a book you think they would like.
12. Write a letter of encouragement to a child in the family that is having a hard time.
13. Send a loved one a helpful or inspiring article that made you think of them.
14. Buy a loved one a gift card to their favorite restaurant or store.
15. Bake cookies when a loved one is feeling down.

Kindness to neighbors

1. Welcome new neighbors to the neighborhood.
2. Make your neighbors a nice meal.
3. Offer to mow your neighbor’s lawn.
4. When they go on a trip, offer to watch their house for them.
5. Inform them when they have a package at their front door.
6. Offer to do them favors when they need it.
7. Walk their dogs for them in a time of need.
8. Offer to wash their car for them.
9. Give them rides if they need them.
10. Invite them to house parties or dinner.
11. If they’re alone on a holiday, invite them to your festivities.
12. Offer to return their library books. 
13. Offer to babysit for your neighbors.
14. Reconnect with an old friend.

Kindness to strangers

1. Hold the elevator or door for someone.
2. Let someone merge into your lane in traffic.
3. Compliment a stranger.
4. Let someone go ahead of you in line at the grocery store.
5. Pay for someone’s food in a restaurant.
6. Leave a nice note on someone’s car.
7. Send a care package to a soldier.
8. Donate to a charity.
9. Volunteer at a homeless shelter. 
10. Feed someone’s parking meter.
11. Let someone have a spot in the parking lot.
12. Give up your seat for someone in need on a bus.
13. Offer to take a photo of a couple.
14. Buy products from a local vendor or small business.
15. Leave quarters at a laundromat. 
16. Share your umbrella with someone.
17. Help someone struggling to carry their grocery bags.
18. Give someone a grocery cart.
19. Volunteer at a nursing home. 

Kindness on social media

1. Write a great online review for a restaurant you love.
2. Leave a positive comment on a news article or blog post.
3. When faced with hate on social media, offer a compliment instead.
4. Like and engage with someone’s business page.
5. Promote a small business on your socials.
6. Leave a compliment on a friend’s page.
7. Highlight a friend or loved one in a post.
8. Write encouraging notes on people’s pages.

Kindness to the earth and animals

1. Plant trees in bare areas.
2. Pick up litter.
3. Make sure to recycle.
4. Properly dispose of toxic liquids.
5. Help animals cross the street when they’re stuck.
6. Turn off your house lights when a turtle’s eggs hatch.
7. Donate items to animal shelters. 
8. Spay and neuter your pets.
9. Donate to environmental charities. 
10. Use non-disposable water bottles. 
11. Car-pool as much as possible.
12. Turn off boat motors in areas populated by sea creatures.

Negative behavior can never be avoided simply by avoiding it. To change negative behavior, positive behavior must replace it. 

God doesn‘t command us to simply be polite. As Christians, we're called to embrace humility, patience, love, and unity. Christ enables us to be completely humble toward one another, remembering that we're unified through Christ, who demonstrated the ultimate humility by suffering on our behalf and living among us. 

By living and practicing these principles, we give less space to hate and anger.

For more on what it means to be kind, download the pray.com app in the iOS App Store or Google Play.