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nice for them because they realize that if they do, that you can do to show kindness. Even gestures
they will receive what they want. Unfortunately, such as opening the door for someone or helping
this happens a lot in our society. Commonly re- load their groceries into or out of a person’s car.
The Gold Standard for Kindness ferred to as, for lack of a more official term, brown The point is not about the gesture, but that you
nosing. Kindness should be done out of honest
thought enough to extend the goodness of human-
By Donald L. Brown, Jr. selflessness and according to God’s urging. ity to another.

Some people perform acts of kindness to simply
brag about what they had done for the benefit of
recognition. This is not the way of genuine kind-
ness. Kindness should be done without the hope of
In this article, we will look at the true power of positive feelings and can even bring about mem- recognition or fame.
kindness and how it can actually affect an entire ories and so much more. It can stimulate certain
community. We'll have a look at the many aspects chemicals in our bodies that play a role in health. Kindness doesn't have to be elaborate; it can be
of kindness and discover how they can bring about something really small such as paying for a meal,
positive changes, both in an individual’s life as well God shows kindness to everyone, good or evil. His a kind word to a fellow human, spending quality
as in the health and function of a community. very nature is that of kindness. This doesn't mean time with a friend, comforting family in times of
that he won't judge them in the end, but He per- trouble and so on. Believe it or not, it is these little
Now we've all heard the popular phrase that says, forms acts of kindness in the hope that the individ- gestures of kindness that imprint an indelible im-
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto ual will turn from their wicked ways. pression in the mind of the encouraged, It doesn't
you." The phrase comes from the Bible, and it take long to find something that you can do that There's just too much that one can do that can
means just what it says. Everyone wants to be treat- Now, there are individuals who will use the kind- will brighten a person's day. actually brighten someone's really bad day, and
ed right and everybody wants respect. However, you ness of people to get what they want. However, believe me when that happens, it is never ever
can't demand respect. It must be earned. we come to the words of Christ who says that we forgotten either. Just remember, that the small acts
should do good regardless of the return. That is of kindness are really enough, and it is those small
very hard to take in. Why if they have had evil things that hold the most power. The thing is; you
done to them, should they be good to an evil per- don't even have to know the person to be kind to
son? them either. All you need to do is to simply do it
and see what happens.
Kindness can go a very long way. Take the idea of
Paying It Forward. This is a concept where you do
something kind for someone and then that per-
son goes out and repeats the gesture to somebody
else and so on. This is a rather popular way of
displaying kindness because it spreads so rapidly.
The question remains: why perform kindness? Do Perhaps one of the most common acts of kindness
you do it out of a genuine heart or do you do it that I have seen people do is to pay for someone's
to get something back? Unfortunately, the reason meal at a restaurant. I have even seen this kind
Kindness, on the other hand, is something that why people may do something kind is for a fruitful of thing done in drive through lines at places like
doesn't necessarily have to be earned. It is some- return. McDonald's where the car in front paid for the
thing that is performed regardless of the situation. meal of people right behind them. Just think for
What does kindness do to an individual or to a True Christians don't do this. They are kind with- a moment that entire line of cars with everyone Donald L. Brown, Jr. is 56 years old and lives
community to whom it has been delivered? out hoping for anything back in return. This is the paying for the meal of the person behind them and in Beaumont, Texas. Brown is legally blind but
way that it is supposed to be. If you do an act of so on. Imagine what that would look like! has never allowed that impairment to dampen
When was the last time someone did something kindness to get something back, then is it really an his ability to write.
kind for you? What did it feel like? Were you excit- act of kindness or more of a selfish gesture? What kinds of simple things can you do for people?
ed, happy, elated, grateful or speechless? Most peo- It all depends. Taking the time to listen to some-
ple who have had kindness shown to them feel very Take for example when children really want some- one, offering to pick up something from the store,
happy, speechless, and moved. Kindness stimulates thing from their parents. They may do something or providing for necessities are just a few things

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