NorthStar Church Blog

Digging Deeper: Demonstrate Your Love

Lee Wilson on April 25, 2024

2 Samuel 9:1-7 (NLT)

DEMONSTRATE YOUR LOVE

In our message this past Sunday, we learned that King David demonstrated love to Mephibosheth by restoring to him the lands that belonged to his grandfather, and by giving him a seat at the King’s table. The act of loving kindness is significant because Mephibosheth does not have the means to repay the gift-giver.

Giving gifts can be a unique thing, based on who you are giving it to. I learned early in my relationship with Deanna what kind of gifts she likes, and I also learned if you get her a gift she doesn’t like, she has no problem telling you! Christmas is not for the faint of heart in the Wilson house.

I got her a necklace from a jewelry store while we were dating. It was a nice necklace, considering what I had available to spend at the time, and I hoped she would like it. When I bought it, the jewelry store included this random photo album to go with it. I didn’t know what to do with it, but I decided to fill it with pictures of us and include it with the necklace.

When Christmas came, the necklace was a side note, and the photo album induced joyful tears. To this day, over 15 years later, I have no idea where that necklace is, but I can show you the photo album right now, as we still have it. It was a reflection of what is the most meaningful gift for her – quality time. The picture and memories associated with them made Deanna happy, and that influenced every gift I have gotten her since.

Meaningful gifts can have a profound impact on us because it is a reflection of the heart of the person giving the gift. We learn something about David based on the way he treats Mephibosheth – it is revealing of his character and his heart.

Romans 5:8 says that God demonstrates his love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (ESV). This incredible atoning sacrifice brings us as believers into eternity in the presence of the Lord, the ultimate source of our hope and joy. This is the very bedrock of what we believe as Christians.

John was so humbled by the sacrifice of our savior that he writes, “Beloved, what manner of love is this that we should be called the children of God?” (1 John 3:1). To be counted among the righteous in the presence of God is a humbling thought indeed, and one that can reveal to us the character and nature of the God we serve, for in his love we have been given a gift impossible to repay.

This notion of God’s love was captured by Pastor and Author John Macarthur in a message he gave on God’s Love:

“Scripture does give us reason to proclaim that God is a God of love. In fact, in 2 Corinthians 13:11 He is called the God of love. And in 1 John 4:8 the Bible says God is love. There’s no question but that this is truly an attribute of God. This is part of the fabric of His spiritual essence, His being. And it is a much celebrated attribute, because along with it comes goodness and kindness and mercy. Those are the evidences and those are the elements of expression that find their origin in love.”

May we soak in these words and in the incredible gift of God’s love.

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

The Value of Hard Work

C.A. Phillips on April 24, 2024

Hard work is worthwhile,
but empty talk will make you poor.

Proverbs 14:23 (CEV)

THE VALUE OF HARD WORK

I spend a fair amount of my spare time on the baseball field as an umpire these days. In now my sixth year as “Blue,” I have called nearly 700 games, the vast majority of them for boys between ages 9-18. In having played the game for 15 years, coaching it for another 15 years, and now umpiring for six more, it is easy to determine during pre-game warm-ups who has been preparing for the game, and who hasn’t.

With travel baseball now being so prevalent – and especially at the younger age groups, it’s rare to see “good baseball” at the recreational level. By age 9, nearly all the kids with talent have moved away from the rec level. With the better players moving on, that also means their parents – and subsequently, the better coaches – are not there to help kids improve their skills. After all, improving in anything takes TIME. And, from what I am seeing most evenings, youth baseball players are not devoting extra time to becoming the best they could be.

I was working a 14U game last week at a local park. I told my partner, who was working behind the plate, that the Home team was likely to get run-ruled based on seeing them just walking out onto the field. Players had no pep in their step, the coach was disorganized, and several of their jerseys were untucked and hats were askew. It was evident these kids hat little confidence, and it showed. Further, it was clear they had not put much time into improving their skills on the field. Often times, our outward appearance is a reflection of how we see ourselves – and this was no exception.

The visiting team scored seven runs in the top of the first inning. They scored another six runs in the second inning. As we began the third inning, the score was 13-7. Thirty minutes into the top of the third, the score was 20-7, and the Home team had failed to record an out! They had changed pitchers twice, and my partner expanded his strike zone in hopes of helping “move the game along.” To no avail. Exasperated, he called timeout, and walked out to confer with me.

“What’s going on here?!?!” he lamented. “How much time is left in the game?”

“Time expired ten minutes ago,” I replied. “I’m not sure why we’re still out here. The Home team clearly doesn’t want to be here, and they can’t get anybody out.”

“Let’s talk to the coaches and see what they want to do,” he said.

So, we called the coach for each team over, bluntly shared what our feelings were about the game, and asked if they wanted to continue. I explained that there was a “drop dead” time when the game would have to end – and that was 12 minutes away.

“Well, let’s play it out,” the Home coach said – much to our dismay, as well as every other spectator!

Whether it’s your sport, your career, your academics, your yard work, or your relationships – HARD WORK is important! Not only that, it is an obvious reflection of your character to others who are watching. There are numerous examples in scripture of people who failed to work hard, who ended up regretting their slothfulness.

Don’t be lazy. Prioritize hard work, and reap the rewards!

C.A. Phillips has served on staff at NorthStar Church since 2004, and has more than 35 years of baseball experience as a player, coach, and umpire. He and his wife, Amy, have two adult sons and live in Kennesaw with their German Shepherd, Abby.

Digging Deeper: Taking Initiative

Lee Wilson on April 24, 2024

2 Samuel 9:1-7 (NLT)

TAKING INITIATIVE

This past Sunday, we learned that one of the ways we show kindness is when we take the initiative. When King David learned about Mephibosheth, he took the initiative to seek him out and to provide him with lifelong blessings.

Kindness in the form of initiative can look a lot of different ways. It can look like providing charitable giving of your time and resources, it can look like calling your mom out of the blue just to chat, or it can take on a much more dramatic form as it did for Richard Rowland Kirkland.

Kirkland served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and participated in the Battle of Fredricksburg. After a failed assault by the Union Army on Mayre’s Heights, dozens of troops lay on the battlefield wounded or dying, and many of them were crying for the same thing: water.

After the agonizing cries persisted, Kirkland took action, approaching his Commander, Joseph B. Kershaw, saying, “General, I can’t stand this.” Initially, Kershaw forbade Kirkland from helping, but he later gave in.

So Kirkland rounded up every canteen he could find and headed out to the battlefield. The Union army initially thought he was trying to plunder their dead and took fire, but after seeing that he was supplying the injured on both sides with water, all firing from either side ceased. Once it became apparent what he was doing, cries from all over the battlefield for water erupted, with Kirkland providing relief.

The courageous and compassionate acts of this 19 year old soldier earned him the nickname “The Angel of Mayre’s Heights” and immense respect from both sides of the conflict. Just one year later, Kirkland would suffer a fatal wound in battle, with his final words being, “tell my pa I died right.”

While many qualities can be observed on the pages of history in battle, honor is among the most compelling. While taking the initiative to approach his commanding officer and making an appeal of compassion, Kirkland was able to set an amazing example of kindness for everyone there. God tells us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), and I am not sure there is a better example given than what Lieutenant Kirkland provided us.

In this remarkable example, we learn about the importance of taking the initiative to do what is right. King David knew it was right to take care of Mephibosheth, and Lt. Kirkland knew it was right to show care for the injured and dying soldiers – regardless of loyalties. James actually warns us that if we know what is right, and choose not to do it, that we are committing sin (James 4:17).

This type of loving kindness is what we would hope for if we were on the battlefield, wounded. Can you imagine? Staring up at the sky wondering if your next breath might be your last, in agonizing pain and just hoping for some water to drink, hoping for somebody brave enough to approach the General and ask if they can help you.

Jesus tells us very plainly that whatever we want someone to do for us, we must do for them (Matthew 7:12). This is the Golden Rule. So don’t hesitate. When you see someone in need, have the courage to take initiative and be kind.

Digging Deeper: The Promise Keeper

Lee Wilson on April 23, 2024

8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” 9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) 11 Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.

2 Samuel 9:8-13 (NLT)

THE PROMISE KEEPER

This past Sunday we examined the topic of kindness, looking at it through the lens of David’s kindness to Mephibosheth. We defined kindness as “an act of love spurred on by genuine care for another person,” and what David did certainly embodied that.

David was the former enemy of Mephibosheth’s grandfather, Saul. To say Mephibosheth was astounded when the King decided to not only show him kindness, but to treat him as one of his own, would be an understatement. David was not just surface-level nice to Mephibosheth; he showed genuine care for him.

Why did David show this kindness? For the sake of his friend, Jonathan (Mephibosheth’s father). David was grieved to learn that his dear friend had perished in battle and lamented the event (2 Samuel 1). When he learned of the last living relative of Jonathan, he wanted to show him love and kindness.

As we learn, Mephibosheth was crippled, and when he and King David met, he was scared for his life and uncertain what the future may hold for him. It would have been reasonable for him to be prepared for execution given the tense relationship of Saul and David.

Given this tension, he fell to his feet and “paid homage” (2 Samuel 9:6) to the King, prompting David to shock him with the blessings he had planned when he said, “Do not fear, for I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always. (2 Samuel 9:7)”

In response to this kindness in verse 8, Mephibosheth says, “What is your servant that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” For he could provide no real value to the King given his crippled state.

There are remarkable parallels between this relationship and our own relationship with God. For in Christ, we are shown ultimate kindness and love in spite of our rebellious history. In spite of this, Romans 5:8 tells us that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)”

Just as David fulfills his promise to Mephibosheth to care for him in the honor of his father, Jesus fulfills his promises to us in the honor of his father. So what kind of promises does God make to his followers?

He promises that all things will work to the good for those who Love him (Romans 8:28), he promises to comfort us in affliction (2 Cor 1:3-4), he promises to give us strength (Isaiah 41:10), he promises us freedom from sin (1 John 1:9), he promises that nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39) and literally thousands more.

Scripture also tells us that God will keep the promises that he makes to his people. Hebrews 10:23 says to “hold to the confession of your hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

What wonderful hope and assurance we can take from these words! God loves us, keeps us and is faithful to us. As a believer in Christ, this is a crucial part of our daily walk, according to Billy Graham:

“God has never promised to remove all our troubles, problems and difficulties…but God has promised, in the midst of trouble and conflict, a genuine peace, a sense of assurance and security that the worldly person never knows.”

Just as Mephibosheth did, we can count on our King to keep his promises and give us a seat at his table.

Digging Deeper: The Calling of the Chosen

Lee Wilson on April 22, 2024

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:12-14 (NLT)

1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. 3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.” 4 “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” 5 So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. 6 His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” 7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” 8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” 9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) 11 Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.

2 Samuel 9:1-13 (NLT)

THE CALLING OF THE CHOSEN

Ever since I was little, I have been fascinated by animals that are dangerous. I love learning about them, whether it’s watching Shark Week or old Steve Irwin videos where he’s free handling a black mamba, one of the world’s most dangerous snakes. I just can’t seem to get enough.

Speaking of dangerous snakes, we have several in our state in the form of pit vipers like Copperheads and rattlesnakes. The Timber Rattlesnake, or Canebrake, is, in my opinion, the most beautiful one. It has a vibrant yellowish gold stripe down the center of it’s back and unmistakable black bands that circle its body. It will shed that skin 4-12 times a year, leaving behind a stern warning to hikers and path-walkers alike.

We’ve been looking at Paul’s letter to the Colossians, and in Chapter 3 he is discussing putting on a new self in Christ. This is the Christian’s way of “shedding skin.” While the snake sheds its skin multiple times, the act of shedding our worldly skin lasts a lifetime as we are sanctified in Christ.

When we get to verse 12, Paul says we are to ”Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. (ESV)” So as God’s chosen people, we are to “put on” or act out these traits. That is his expectation of us.

In his Look at the Book study, pastor John Piper discusses this verse and mentions the importance of “knowing and feeling what it means to be chosen, Holy and Loved.” He says the very thought that we are chosen by God should “stagger” us. The same God that created the universe, who sent the flood, who parted the Red Sea, who sent his son to the cross – that God chose YOU.

The insinuation by Piper is that we are called to embody these traits of humility, patience, kindness, etc, but that we will not feel the weight of that command and achieve it until we resolve to understand that we were singled out by God as his chosen people, Holy and beloved.

We are to be Holy, and we are set aside to by God to be as such. In John 15:16 Jesus says explicitly “You did not choose me, but I chose you…”

God chose us. In spite of everything you’ve ever done or will do wrong, he chose you. He loved you anyway.

Now with this incredible act, we are called to put on a new self, one that is compassionate, kind, humble, meek and patient (Col. 3:12). We have a higher calling because we have been appointed by the creator of the universe and are destined for an eternity in his presence. Our journey to perfection will not be complete until we get into the presence of Jesus, but we are chosen to be different in our time on earth.

Sometimes we mess up and fall short. It’s like when my son is playing baseball and I tell him, “Sometimes you strike out, and sometimes the other guy catches the ball. You don’t always get a hit.” Sometimes we miss in life. But the great Hank Aaron said, “Whether I was a in a slump or feeling badly, the only thing to do was keep swinging.”

So feel the weight of your calling. Wake up every day and fall to your face and thank God that he chose you as his eternal child. Pray for the strength to live out his commands, but do not lose heart when you fall short. Even the greatest ballplayers ever have slumps. As the Hammer said, the key is to keep swinging.

Digging Deeper: Change the Story

Kelly Skelton on April 19, 2024

Colossians 3:14 (ESV)

CHANGE THE STORY

Closing out this week, I want to circle back to the words from Monday, the kindness of my mom.

My mom’s kindness in her hospital bed impacted those who cared for her.

The nurses, doctors and caretakers would each tell my sister and me what a kind woman my mom was, how brave she was, how sweet her soul was. Every time they spoke of her kindness it melted our hearts, but nothing melted it more than the love of her nurse on the second day of her stay.

That nurse became attached to my mom. They shared stories, they laughed and cried over pictures. My mom knew things about her life that even I was surprised she shared. This nurse came back to the hospital hours before her shift started just because she knew my mom was being discharged on hospice care. She came back to tell my mom good-bye, to hug her neck and to tell her that she loved her. It’s a moment I will never forget. Out of such darkness that hung over us, my mom’s kindness and the nurse’s kindness is what helped carry us through. The kindness that she had was what I imagine Jesus was like. In the midst of a battle, in the middle of fighting for her final days, she chose kindness, compassion and love.

I pray as you end your week, you reflect back on the kindness you were able to offer, and see the kindness that was given to you.

I pray that the kindness you shared helped change someone else’s story too.

Kelly Skelton is a Georgia native, raised in the south on Jesus, Georgia football and sweet tea. She is her husbands’ biggest fan and her two daughters’ loudest cheerleaders. She recently published her first children’s book titled, But God Had a Plan. She stays active in the Dallas area as a photographer, videographer, writer, and middle school teacher.

Digging Deeper: Plant Seeds of Kindness

Kelly Skelton on April 18, 2024

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Galatians 5:22 (ESV)

PLANT SEEDS OF KINDNESS

Seeds of kindness can harvest into something bigger than you could have imagined. God can use even the tiniest of moments of kindness to change someone’s heart, someone’s day, someone’s life, even someone’s eternity.

My grandmother was the epitome of kindness. In fact, even into her late 80’s before she went into assisted living, she was constantly inviting people into her home. It was not uncommon to show up for Sunday dinner and see a set of complete strangers that she had invited in, shared a Coke, a cookie and fellowshipped with. She was one that was never in a hurry, always paused to listen and always had the perfect scripture or example tucked away in her back pocket. She never missed an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus. When reading through her old journals I read one example after another of people who stepped in to whom she offered the kindness of Jesus in ways she would have never boasted about or even shared.

One thing I’ve learned over and over in life, is that people will never forget how you made them feel. Lets make that memory something good, leaving behind a legacy of kindness.

I pray today, as you take on new and planned things, that you remember to plant seeds of kindness. And I pray that as your day goes on, God waters those and turns them into something so much more.

Digging Deeper: Some Things are Unforgettable

Kelly Skelton on April 17, 2024

…”and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.”

2 Peter 1:7 (ESV)

SOME THINGS ARE UNFORGETTABLE

The most impactful moment of kindness in my life hit me in 2020. My family was frantic, scared and in quarantine. The isolation was nothing short of traumatic. It was so hard to celebrate the littlest of things, but I will never forget my birthday that year. I’ll never forget the image of my precious mother-in-law pulling into my driveway. She walked up the stairs of my porch with groceries in her hands, flowers in a vase and birthday cookies peeking out of a bag. I watched her walk up those stairs with gifts, tangible items that just ooze her kindness. We tried talking through the windows for a few minutes, we reached our hands out to each other, desperately wishing they could touch. We poured tears together without saying a word. We just stared through the glass, and the feeling of uncertainty hung thick in the air as she left my sweet birthday gifts on the porch and waved good-bye.

I’ll never forget that act of kindness. How she showed up for me and my family, because that’s who she is. When my world felt like it was breaking, she brought me hope in the form of kindness.

Kindness should come natural to us. It should just pour out of us like it does my mother-in-law. As Christians, our actions should be different. Our kindness should make us stand out. It should make others wonder and want the joy that we harvest inside us.

I pray as you go through today, God reminds you of some of the kind moments that have been gifted to you. I pray those memories inspire you to offer kindness so freely to others today.

Digging Deeper: People Never Forget How You Made Them Feel

Kelly Skelton on April 16, 2024

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Proverbs 16:24 (ESV)

PEOPLE NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL

I’ve been a teacher for 13 years. I’ve taught kindergarten through 8th grade at any given point during those years. It has been a blessing to listen and engage with students. I’ve been their voice of reason, their school mom, the one they vent to and even occasionally cry with. I’ve listened as they have lost puppies, gone through break ups, dealt with mean girls, and even listened as some have struggled with their beliefs. Some days exhaustion hits, lessons need to be completed, and time runs out at the end of the period. But, there is one thing I have repeatedly learned, being present is often the greatest and most impactful form of kindness to someone else.

A decade ago, a student of mine was having a rough day. He had his heart broken and the math lesson was the farthest thing from his cares that day. His face showed all the emotions he was going through. My heart said that I needed to stop and check on him, so I walked away from the board mid lesson. I sat down beside him and just listened. But, what he remembered the most was that I told him we weren’t going to let this steal his smile today.

Sometimes the most impactful thing you can do is deter from what your plan was, listen to what God is asking you to do, and show kindness before moving forward. That same student a decade later still remembered that tiny moment. When he saw me out he came up to me and told me what an impact those words had on him. He hadn’t forgotten how I paused to make him smile.

The Bible says, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”As Christians, kindness should be who we are. We should show kindness in everything we do. You never know how impactful such a small moment could be.

I pray as you take on this day that you stay unhurried and un-rushed. That you can show up with kindness in all the big and small moments headed your way. I pray your kindness makes a bigger impact that you can witness years later.

I pray as you walk through your day, in your highs and lows, that you can show kindness. Be present, listen, show up in the moments that God needs you too. Wearing a smile on your face in the midst of a battle just may be a shining example that inspires someone else.

Digging Deeper: How Do You Define Kindness?

Kelly Skelton on April 15, 2024

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:14 (ESV)

HOW DO YOU DEFINE KINDNESS?

For me, it is being present, being a listening ear, being a calm voice in the middle of someone’s storm. I think of small gestures, smiles and high fives. I think of being the one who steps in when it feels like the world has turned its back.

When I imagine kindness that Jesus showed as He walked the earth, I can’t help but picture a man with his hands constantly stretched out, a man that listened intently. I imagine a man that was judgement free as He helped and healed those He encountered.

One vivid image I have etched into my memory of kindness happened last summer. I watched as my mom was given the gut-wrenching news that her breast cancer was back, and this time the prognosis was terminal. She had multiple tumors in her head, and her time here was more limited than we ever imagined. I stared at her with tears streaming down my face as she lay stagnant in the dark hospital bed. The news of her prognosis was still washing over her, precious doctors and nurses continued to spill in and speak this overwhelming reality to her. All she did for those horrific hours was listen, soak it in and trust. She could have been filled with bitterness and anger. She could have harvested resentment, lashed out or argued. After all, she’d already fought this fight and won just a few short years before.

But, she didn’t. That’s not who she was and that was not who God was to her.

Instead, in those broken moments she spoke life into her nurses. She exuded joy, she smiled constantly, she inquired about her nurses’ lives. With every shift change she started her kindness all over again. She was fully invested in who they were, and less concerned with what she was going through. In those short days we spent in the hospital, my mom was the epitome of kindness to the crew that cared for her. She was a shining example of Jesus to them even in the midst of her darkest hours. After all, isn’t that what the Bible wants us to do? Are we ever really more like Jesus than when we are kind to others? You never know what impact a smile, small gesture, or kind words can have.