Be Kind to One Another!
From an early age, I was taught to treat people the way I wanted to be treated. While that has stayed with me and I strive to do this each day, I haven’t always achieved this, particularly when I feel I haven’t been treated well, was misunderstood or when I didn’t agree with someone’s view.
In today’s world of increasing tension, conflict and disunity it is even more important than ever as followers of Christ that we take responsibility for how we reflect and represent Jesus to others. We are called to live counter-culturally and to show others the love, grace and mercy that Jesus has shown each of us.
An example of treating people as we would want to be treated is through acts of kindness. A simple and easy example for me is intentionally acknowledging drivers’ courtesy when they let me in as I merge on to the motorway, either with a wave or using my hazard lights. Small acts of kindness hold immeasurable power. A smile, a kind word or a thoughtful gesture can brighten someone’s day, uplift spirits and restore faith in humanity. These small acts can create a ripple effect, inspiring others to pay it forward, which fosters a more compassionate and caring society.
Our mission is to care for people, transform lives and reform society by God’s power. In outworking our mission, we often begin the journey with caring and showing kindness, seeking to reflect the heart of God, displaying love in action to all those we engage with, especially to the vulnerable, hurting and marginalised, as described in Ephesians 4:32: ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’.
Kindness is giving hope to those who think they are all alone in this world. Kindness is seeing the best in others when they cannot see it in themselves. Kindness is something anyone can give without losing anything themselves. Kindness is not just what you do, but who you are. This is reflective of what Jesus did in his ministry and engagement with a very diverse range of people.
People are at the centre of who we are and what we do as The Salvation Army. This is reflected in our values of being compassionate, seeking to reflect and represent the heart of God—to be his love in action to all people we encounter. We desire to be open-hearted, respectful and kind to those we meet and serve, and to our fellow servants.
Colonel Gerry Walker
Chief Secretary
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (NIV).
Kia ngāwari tō koutou tikanga tētahi ki tētahi, kia pai te ngākau, me te hohou noa iho i te rongo tētahi ki tētahi, kia pērā anō me te Atua i hohou nei i te rongo ki a koutou i roto i a te Karaiti (PT).
ia dou veilomani vakai kemudou, dou lomavinaka, dou kakua ni veicudruvi, me vaka sa sega talega ni cudruvi kemudou na Kalou e na vuku i Karisito (FOV).
Iske alaawa, dayaalu aur mesiful raho, aur dusra log ke maaf kar deo, jeise Parmeshwar, Krisṭ ke kaaran tumme maafi dees raha (FRHNT).
Ka mou anga‘ofa mu‘a ‘i ho‘omou feangai, mo manava‘ofa, pea mou fefakamolemole‘aki, ‘o hange foki ko e ‘Otua ne ne fakamolemole kimoutolu ‘ia Kalaisi. Ko ia, mou hoko mu‘a ko e kau fa‘ifa‘itaki ki he ‘Otua, ‘o tāu mo e fanau kuo ‘ofeina (TWB).
A ia outou feagaleleiai, ia femutimutivaleai lo outou alofa, ia fefaamagaloai outou, faapei ona faamagaloina outou e le Atua ia Keriso (SOV).
