refreshing kindness

Today we read from Philemon 1:1-25 in the One Year Bible. Paul tells Philemon that he is very pleased with him, because his kindness has been refreshing to God's people.

That resonates deeply into our hearts, doesn't it? When you're going about your day, and people are honking at you .05 seconds after the light turns green, and they're cutting in front of you in line at the grocery store, and they're being rude in every way imaginable... and then someone says, "Thank you!" and really means it. It cuts through the rudeness and it reminds you that there is goodness.

And it IS a reminding. We know, deep down inside where God meets us, that goodness is what is real. Goodness is what will last for eternity. They say all good things must come to an end, but they're wrong. Only the good things are eternal. The truth is that all bad things will come to an end, and in the blink of an eye.

We know that there is goodness, but it's easy to forget when we run out of gas or lock our keys in the car. When we are short with those we love because we're tired. When we are so busy that we don't have time to think.

So that moment of kindness... that smile, that held door, that "please" or "thank you"... it's refreshing.

Refresh someone today. :)

God, thank You for the goodness that is forever. Please help us refresh one another by reminding each other about it.