Written by Evi Idoghor
Kindness (a fruit of the Spirit) is a universal language that is understood by everyone on the planet. When you show love to people by doing kind things for them, it reaches deep into their souls and resonates with the very essence of who they are as individuals. Any small act of kindness, such as a smile, holding the door open for a person to walk through, or providing assistance to someone in need, counts.
My mother died of cancer nearly 12 years ago, and I miss her dearly. During the last week of her life, I stayed in the hospital with her. I prayed for her recovery, and I was ready to go to any length to see that she was well again. Although she didn’t recover from the terminal disease, there were two instances in which people went out of their way to try to make the situation better, and I will never forget them.
It all started with a resident doctor. He came into the room where we were, to examine my mother's condition. After a few minutes, he had a worried expression on his face, and then he turned to me and asked if he could pray with me. I was completely taken aback; this was not a common practice you saw in the United States, especially in the medical field. To him, I presume, it didn't matter whether I was a Christian or not. He simply believed that, regardless of my religious beliefs, there was a God who could intervene. That brought a lot of warmth to my heart. After we finished praying, my heart felt lighter and more at ease.
Fast forward a few days, and I was fast asleep on a chair next to my mother's bed. She began to toss and turn in her sleep. It was her restlessness that jolted me awake from my sleep. I dashed to her side as soon as I saw her in that uncomfortable state. By that point, she had begun ripping everything from her body that was still attached to it. In an attempt to calm her down, I ran around her bed in circles, looking confused, until I was completely exhausted from attempting to stop her. Helpless, tears began to stream down my cheeks. A nurse walked into the room at that precise moment. She wrapped her arms around me. “Have you eaten today?” she inquired, looking into my eyes as I wiped away tears.
How could I possibly eat when my mother was slowly slipping away? Food was of no value to me at the time—I had not eaten for days. In response to my shrug, she walked out of the room and returned with biscuits. In her words, “you have to take care of yourself, or you will breakdown as well.” After that, I stopped to eat.
It was in those moments that I realized God had sent those two medical professionals to show me His kindness during one of the most difficult experiences of my life. Irrespective of my mother’s passing, I continue to think about these people who took the time to care for me, even though I was not their patient. The only thing I can surmise is that they recognized my need for comfort and assistance and stepped in to provide it in their own way. Their kindness is something I will forever cherish in my heart.
If they walked past me today, I wouldn't know who they were because I have no recollection of what they looked like, save for their gender and race. Nonetheless, I remember what they did for me, and it has served as a constant reminder to always be kind to others, even when I am not in the mood to do so.
You never know what people are going through. So, when they are rude to you or cut you off in traffic, there is no need to be defensive in your response. That person may have recently experienced the death of a loved one, or they may be on the verge of being evicted from their apartment. As such, it always pays to be kind, even when the situation doesn’t call for it, and who knows? Your kindness may go a long way.
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