But here we are, a week to go until Christmas, uncertainty abounding, learning the Greek alphabet... stress is high! No matter how much we tell ourselves we want simpler Christmases, we need to admit that our to-do lists tend to be longer around this time of year.
And so: we are out and about more, we are interacting with more people (whilst trying to interact less and less with people), we are feeling more time crunch.
And what I have seen happening recently is this:
We are being kinder.
Kinder to each other, as we navigate shopping aisles and unavoidable delays.
Kinder to staff in stores and offices, who are doing the best they can to help us.
Kinder to ourselves, in re-setting expectations to a more realistic level.
It’s the ‘please’s and ‘thank you’s, the holding open of doors, the acts of generosity, the consideration, the positive communication, … it’s every thing that we do and say, that reflects how we would want to be treated.
Kindness this year is happening in a multitude of expressions!
In a way, as we act kindly, we are also being kinder to the future: for if we can remember this kindness, we will aspire to include it again next year. If we can teach this kindness, others will be inclined to join us in the kindness sharing.
So: for everyone who offered kindness yesterday: delight in knowing that someone you were kind to really needed to receive that kindness!
And for everyone given the opportunity to be kind today (which is, of course, all of us!): let’s do our best to extend that kindness.
For in doing so, we will all enjoy this busy and stressful time of year a little bit more: and more of the light of God will be seen shining in our midst.
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