Seeds of Kindness

The Bible often uses metaphors to convey wisdom and truth. One example of this is sowing seeds of love and righteousness that will blossom into beautiful things later in life. On Sunday mornings, I normally go for a run, then to the gym for a swim.

One week, as I completed my swim and headed for the sauna to relax, I passed a young lady with her two daughters. She asked, “Are you Deborah?” When I responded “Yes,” she told me she recognized me from Bethel College, in Butterworth, South Africa, from more than twenty-five years ago. I was pleasantly surprised and asked if she had been a student of mine at the primary school. She said she remembered me all these years because of one particular day in church when I was asked to pray and how I had appealed to God for help, as a people, to accept things we cannot change and to grant us the ability to make a difference.

“That prayer,” she said, “has stayed with me my entire life.” I was stunned someone would remember a prayer I had long forgotten but grateful my words had left a positive impact on this lady. As I drove home, I gave glory to God for using me to make a difference in one person’s life. Then I wondered, If I had said or done something harmful to her, how would I have felt on meeting up with her again? It is important for us to be intentional in how we engage with people. We live in a world where people who hold opposing views choose to break each other down and cut people from their lives. How can we keep from falling prey to this disease? I believe as we pursue inner peace, we should balance it by making this world a better place through planting seeds of kindness to all we meet.

A kind word, a prayer, and an act of love can go a long way. People are struggling with personal challenges, making it all the more important to be wise with our words and ensure we plant seeds that bear fruit for eternity. more important to be wise with our words and ensure we plant seeds that bear fruit for eternity. Kindness is a seed that when cultivated will grow. Kindness is knowing the right thing to do and possessing the courage to do it.

Kindness gives hope to those who feel all alone in this world.

Dear sisters, it is my prayer we will continue to sow seeds of kindness and that we will reap a rich harvest throughout eternity.

Deborah Matshaya