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bers having difficulties in their life. She
                           The Characteristics of Kindness                                                                         was always looking for opportunities to


                                          By Sandra Melcher-Bidman                                                                 demonstrate love and concern to others.
                                                                                                                                   The baskets did not contain expensive

        Kindness means being considerate,                                                                                          items, but small items to bring a smile to
        courteous, helpful, and understanding                                                                                      someone face.
        of others, showing care, compassion,                         We find many

        and generosity. It is treating others as                                                                                   It does not take much effort to share
        you would like to be treated, showing                      passages in the                                                 kindness, it can be a smile, a kind word,                         Sandra Melcher-Bidman works as an

        concern for the feelings of others and                                                                                     or a small deed. Let us spread a little                           IOP counselor at Aspell Recovery in
        being helpful and generous.                                     Bible about                                                kindness one act, one deed, one smile at                          Jackson, TN. She has been employed
                                                                                                                                                                                                     there for five years.
                                                                                                                                   a time and see the impact we make on
                                                                                                                                   others life as well as our own.                                   Sandra graduated from Freed Harde-
                                                                           kindness.                                                                                                                 man University in 2014, with a double

                                                                                                                                                                                                     major, Bachelors in Social Work and
                                                                                                                                                                                                     Bachelors in Bible Missions.
                                                               She had several children, her husband

                                                               was disabled, but she was always will-                                      Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God:     After graduation, she traveled to
                                                                                                                                                                                                     Samoa, in the South Pacific, where
                                                               ing to share what she had with others.                                   sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that   she worked with the children there,

                                                                                                                                            you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will   assisting them with medical needs. She
                                                                                                                                                                                                     also taught Bible in the public school
                                                                                                                                                              be cut off.
                                                                                                                                                                                                     for 18 months. She was responsible for
                                                                                                                                                                                                     donating hundreds of books to set up a
        Kindness can be a connection emo-                                                                                    Butterfly Background: https://unsplash.com/photos/X8pnAEjqmqI           library in the school.

        tionally with someone to spread pos-                                                                                                                                                         Sandra has a passion for helping others
        itive thoughts and feelings to show                                                                                                                                                          to recover from addictions.

        understanding, respect, and genuine                                                                                                                                                          Romans 11:22 NIV
        love and concern. But it also involves                                                                                       https://unsplash.com/@__drz__                                   Sandra grew up in Morris, Alabama,
                                                                                                                                                                                                     but moved to Hendersonville, Tennes-
        action, looking for opportunities to                   Many times she would care for relatives                                                                                               see in 2008. She has one brother and
        show kindness without expectation.                     for extended periods of time with no                                                                                                  one sister. She enjoys working with
                                                               financial help. She left this life many                                                                                               flowers and vegetable gardening.

        My Aunt Christine is an example of                     years ago.
        everything described in the meaning                                                                                                   “Be kind and compassionate to one another,
        of kindness. She had so little in earth-               Another example of showing kindness                                                          forgiving each other, just as in

        ly goods or comforts, but she never                    to others was a woman from church
        complained. She was the kindest, most                  where I attended. Her name was Jea-                                                                 Christ God forgave you.

        humble person I have ever known.                       nette. She made “cheer baskets” and                                                                         Ephesians 4:32
                                                               delivered them to the sick or to mem-




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