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In this episode of the 'Playmakers' Galatians podcast show Matt & Nigel talk to Jenny and Anne from Bishop's Stortford Community Church. Together they ask the question "how powerful is kindness in the life of a Christian and the people we meet?"
At the beginning of Galatians, Paul sets out his testimony as evidence of the truth of the gospel of Jesus and it's the same with us as disciples. The gospel of Jesus is true and our testimony of life is part of that evidence which illustrates that it's true. As Jesus says in Matthew Chapter 7 :16 "By their fruit you will recognise them."
So as we think about the message of Galatians in this Playmakers podcast, we're talking to real people and thinking about how the gospel of Jesus has transformed, underpinned and built the lives of men and women of God, men, and women in our community. How do they live in freedom and guard that freedom in Christ?
These are not the testimonies of people who are far away, but people who sit next to us at CCBS on Sundays and in small groups, real people who show that Jesus is Lord in their daily lives.
Hello and welcome to the Playmakers Galatians podcast. In the studio today, we've got two new guests. So welcome. Could you please introduce yourselves?
Hello, my name's Jenny Butler. I've been at the community church since more, 1997. Um, and. I'm sitting amongst some really good friends here.
Oh, it's great to have you,
was that kind of you to say so as well?
Thank you.
yeah. Thank you. I'm I'm pleased that you are, you are being kind already, but let's not give too much away just yet. And we also have another guest welcome.
Hello, my name's Anne Barford and uh, I've come along to the community church and I've been coming since about 1984. I should think it must have been okay.
Almost when it first started.
Yeah. Okay. And tell us something interesting about your. ,
they are both currently looking at the ceiling as if there is nothing interesting out. Do you want us to tell you something interesting about you? Go on then. Okay. Uh, you are married to John and you're married to Colin and you've both put up with them for years and years.
and if ever there was a sign of kindness, cuz I know these lovely gentlemen, you guys have got it, Matt. It's
great to have you. So thank you so much for joining us. nicely LinkedIn then Nigel. Because we're gonna introduce, today's topic. The question itself is. How powerful is kindness in both the life of a Christian and the people that we meet.
And I think before we start answering that big question, maybe we should try and define what we mean by kindness. So , what comes to mind when you think of the word kindness?
See, I had to prepare for this just to make sure , one of the, the definition I thought this is a great one comes so simply from my mouth, a gracious disposition in character and attitude that puts others first. And I thought, you know what? I like that mm-hmm, , I've never thought of it like that, but actually.
Yeah, I like that. Mm.
Okay. And what, what do you think, Anne?
I think, what comes to my mind is, having time for someone who needs. .
I think, uh, again, when I think about kindness, I don't always think of it as a, a positive thing. and what I mean by that is that sometimes, especially out there in the world, I don't think, kindness is always seen as a strength.
Sometimes it can be seen as a bit of a weakness. So like, if you are. Maybe like super kind and super nice. You're kind of pushed to the side or you maybe get walked all over. However, think my mind certainly changed ever since becoming a Christian. Again, what do you
think Nigel? I agree.
I mean, the thing is if somebody's kind generally speaking as soon as an easy target, , but the people who I've known in my life who have been kindest have had a huge effect on me. I mean , maybe put something in the background from Galatians, cuz we are talking about Galatians in general.
Kindness is actually only mentioned once in the entirety of Galatians and it's as a part of the fruit of the spirit where it says in Galatians five, but the fruit of the spirit is love. Joy, peace, patience, kindness. Goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control against such things. There is no law.
And I think that's a fascinating thing that kindness is so powerful that there is no law against it. And kindness in the rest of the Bible is more or less talked about with the kindness of God, towards his children and towards the world. So it's the action that Jesus is sent by God. That is an act of kindness.
Mm.
The biggest kindness. Oh yeah. In the history of ma universe. Yeah. Okay.
Pretty big, but it is countercultural. Okay. What do you mean Inso far as a bit like you guys have just said that it can be seen as a sign of weakness or people can think, well, why are you doing that? What, what, you know, what's in it for you?
Um, who are you? Mm-hmm because a lot of what's going on today is it's all about me. Mm-hmm um, and it's not about you and if someone's gotta win, I've gotta win. Mm.
So perhaps a question to ask, okay, just to get us into this, the reason we've invited you two along is that you are two of the kindest people we know agreed.
That is why we decided to invite you along. You're not here for your speaking. You're not here for all of that stuff. You're here because frankly, you are amazing and you are kind now one of the questions that came into my head, as I was thinking this through is. Who are the heroes of kindness that I have, who I've had during my Christian walk.
And there are lots of people that came to mind. Jenny, you did actually come to mind with Colin, cuz you were so kind to me the last few years and the few years before that, but the one who really came to my mind was a guy called John jury. And he was an elder in the church I grew up in and when Sophie and I first got married, we had nothing other than each other.
And. One day, I parked on a single yellow line to go and do something and I got a ticket and John paid it for us and he didn't have to, and then he gave us money to buy a carpet. And John just spent his whole life. He was a single man. He lived with his parents. He died in his seventies. He lived with his parents all of his life, but he spent his whole life being kind to people.
And I can name for you. 6, 7, 8 people off the top of my head, who are Christians because of his kindness. Mm. Wow. Do you have any heroes of kindness? Heroes have been kind.
Well for myself, going back many years when I, started going to Sunday school at a youngish age, there were a couple of sisters and the two MIS luckiest they were.
And, they showed kindness by, , Helping in Sunday school, but they would do things like they'd take a bunch of children to, the planetarium or to, matted two swords and places where actually it was really quite expensive to go to. And it's not something that I don't think my parents would've taken me too.
And they would bake cakes. They would buy us ice cream. Mm-hmm and that was just so kind. And then of more recent years, I think, Audrey T who, was, uh, the instigation in setting up this church. She and her husband, Alec, along with, one or two others, always showed kindness so many times.
So many weeks had people back after church visitors, families to a house to give them a meal and just, Always , had such a servant heart and just showed kindness to people. Wow.
I'm gonna show my mother-in-law up now. Anne so again, Anne and John were particularly kind to me when I became a Christian, and, and came to this church.
I actually knew, Anne and John. Before I knew my now wife, their daughter, and again, just be just being able to go round and just be myself, and , feel like I was at home at somebody else's home was. Fantastic for me, especially early on in, you know, when I was dating their daughter and, the fact that they've helped they've really helped us when we've been going through the adoption process with, with our children, uh, as well.
It is just inspirational. And it's why, when we were talking about this particular subject, why I suggested my mother-in-law and so there you go, blush away. There's no cameras here. uh, but yeah. What, what about
you? I was thinking about that. And, in some ways you could say there are a lot of people, or we can all say that.
And particularly if you are thinking recently, but going back, uh, I've got a couple of friends who were at school where I, in fact one was in my class and, uh, one's a bit younger than us, but I've got several friends, girlfriends who I'm still in contact with. Who've. Enormously kind to me or, and to Colin in some ways, particularly through some of the episodes of our life, uh, they know who Jesus is, which is the most wonderful thing you can know.
And, uh, we are still linked with them and, um, their heart for us and, and for me has been unwavering.
And their thoughtfulness. I know we're talking about kindness, but the whole thing's wrapped up in just even words of encouragement during times when you thought. And I thought, actually, that's the kindness of God to bring us some in sometimes. Yeah. Some comfort. So, you know, Linda and Lindsay and Hazel and Jan, they're never gonna hear this probably.
But they're absolute well heroines. And we've got other people, of course, but I think long term, those girls are really, and they're still here. One's very, very desperately ill. God's kept her and she said it should be terminal, but I'm still here. And we're just saying, God, that is kindness.
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you, you said a phrase there, Jenny, you said the kindness of God. Yeah. Um, where or, or when have you experienced the kindness of God yourselves?
Well, in those situations of our life, as we've been married, if you want to think about them more recently, uh, with our family here, But we could say too numerous to mention, but the small things that people have done for us, that someone has even tomorrow, has said, look, we are going out.
We'd like to take you out. We'll come and get you to me. That is kindness. Colin's, can't walk very well at the moment and all that stuff, but it's very simple things, as much as, I mean, we've got some, uh, quite amazing things that God's taken us through with his kindness and other peoples, but there are so many meals.
People coming around, people dropping things off, people phoning up, people saying, we'll lend you our car. I mean, it's demonstrated in everyday situations that you just think again, I've seen people say, well, you know, why, why have people done that? Well, it's, it's a game
changer.
Yeah. Isn't it amazing how effective kindness is when it's a surprise. Yeah. I find people are sometimes taken aback by, by kindness. I'll give you an example. we, we went to, , a, a cafe recently with a group of friends of ours and, they hadn't brought their payment card or whatever, and we just said, oh, we'll get you breakfast.
And then a couple of days later, they, they saw us again. They said, oh, I must pay you back. And I said, no, No, you know, you flipping well won't thank you very much. I did that cause I wanted to do that and it's strange. It's like people seem a bit shocked by the smallest amount of kindness.
Sometimes now I'm not trying to paint myself out of some generous, meal buyer, coffee buyer, or anything like that. But when you can help, I think that's when God presents the, those opportunities. To show a bit of his heart to show a bit of kindness to people just who need it.
It isn't just financial though. Is it? It's time as well? Like you said, giving people time.
What about you, Anne? How about the kindness of God in your life?
Well, uh, one thing comes to mind and this was a big thing. This was a big financial thing, really, although we didn't ever have to use it, but when, the earlier days of the church and we, we only had two children, then they were.
And, John stopped working in London because he wanted to work locally and he started doing building work. And, there were a couple in the church and they said, uh, and some, we were a bit worried cuz our mortgage was high and , all this sort of thing. And they said to, us, do you know how much you need to earn each month?
Um, you know, to sort of make ends meet. And we said, John said, yes, I know I've worked that out. And they said, well, any month you don't meet that. We will make it up to you. Wow. I mean, if that isn't kindness, I dunno what is, fortunately, we didn't ever have to ask them, but we knew that that was there.
Mm.
See, I think there's, there's more than money, cuz I mean, we can talk about kindness and we can talk about provision and provision's really important.
Mm-hmm for me. And Sophie's well, but I'm far more intense than my wife. My wife is kind of a happy go lucky, relaxed woman. Whereas I tend to, boil things a lot in my head coming here. Three and a half years ago, feeling a little bit hurt and bruised. There were people in the church who were just kind because they were friends.
And one of the things I found over my life as a Christian and also in opportunities I've been blessed with to minister is no matter where I go in the world or in any place when someone. It's full of the spirit of God. There's a connection. And you just get on. And I mean, I know some really, I mean, I, I have friends who are so different to me because I mean, I'm, you know, a bit of an old socialist really.
And I hang around with people in Bishop. Storor, what's all that about , but it's kind of, that doesn't matter because under God with God, there is a connection that kind of transcends that.
do you find it easy to be kind to others? I mean, we're, we're putting this, quite a bit of responsibility on, on, on our two guests, by what we've announced at the beginning of the podcast. but again, do you find it easy to be kind or.
When you, asked me to come and, just sit with you two very interesting characters.
Not knowing Anne would be here. Uh, thank you, Anne, for being here. It's nice to have it. Nice to have a bit of sanity. Um, welcome. When you asked me, I thought kindness and I thought. I have to say that it wouldn't be a word I would've particularly used. I understand all that we're saying here, and I can see it in scripture.
And it is a spiritual attribute or I, I mean, there are times when there is kindness and perhaps you thought, mm, this wasn't my best day, but God, you are saying something here. But I think kindness is something that. To people, may I be to suggest it can be quite natural. As you've both described about people that you've seen, uh, we've had this love store for thing now for a while.
And I'm just, and we've already said this bowled over by people who see us pay for their shopping or whatever it is. And they're like, what are you about? So I think in some ways that's the countercultural bit kindness to me. I hope this doesn't sound right. It's just something I do. I don't actually think I'm being kind after all.
I see Nigel and, uh, I tell him how wonderful he is and he's, uh, he comes around and has lunch with us and that's not being kind, but to be serious, I think. Being kind is something that God's just put in our heart for people because he loved us first. I sorry to do or theology at Nigel, but he was the one that loved us first gave that loving kindness to us.
And because the holy Spirit's in us, it's like, you just see people with a, a different pair of eyes.
Mm-hmm do, has that come over time?
I don't think it has. Mm. I think it has grown our time came when we were your age and had people sitting on our doorstep after church and all that stuff, which I'm sure you guys have done. I won't go into all that, but it's just something that God put in our hearts. I guess.
What about you, Anne?
Have, have you, have you had a. A growth of kindness or, I mean, would you agree with Jenny and say it's just something that you are.
Yeah, well, it it's part of the fruit of the spirit, I suppose. Isn't it. And it's something you don't see it grow. It kind of happens gradually. I'm sure. You know, as fruit grows, so kindness grows along with love, joy, peace patients, and all the other fruits of the spirit.
And sometimes it's easy to be kind. And sometimes you have to make yourself be kind because it might be somebody who, is, not annoying, but is not, a character that you particularly want to be kind to.
I have to say that, obviously when you're as mature as a Christian, as I am, you'll find everyone really easy to get on with
But sorry, that was a joke. I find there are people who are just really hard to like, and, none of them are in this room and hopefully you don't feel that way about me, although I can't ask for Matt . First of all, are there people who you found it hard to like and be kind to, and how have you done it?
Because I bet you haven't been unkind to them.
No one person particularly comes to mind, but when someone is, say somebody, maybe, maybe you don't know, or you don't know very well. And, they are doing something which you, which is just horrible or they've been unkind they've done something. Or, and I have to stop and think to myself.
What sort of background does that person come from? What sort of upbringing has that person had? Why are they like that? Why have they done that? And I have to think about that and, think, well, do you know what? Just maybe, they've had something really bad in their life. Mm-hmm
so empathy that sense.
Seeing it from their perspective, is it yes,
yes. Or just thinking, why do they do that? Why, why would they be so unkind? , and then looking for, and sometimes you find out that actually they've had a past, that's been, bad, or they've had a bad upbringing and, something, awful happened to them or whatever.
And then you think, well, actually I can understand that. I can understand why they don't like adults, or I can understand why they, you know, Mm.
What about you, Jenny?
We've had some, I say we, in the context of when we were perhaps, uh, having more involvement in the general care of, our family here, we've had some, as I'm sure most people have, like Anne saying, we've had some very challenging people to love, and to be kind to, particularly when they've.
Very unkind to us and to others as ANSYS. And I think it's just been the grace of God. That's enabled us to love them and have all sorts of things happen. And, all sorts of things, brought back at you. And this is. Oh, my goodness, how amazing, because it, it had to be the grace of God for some of the things that happened and, and it's inconvenient.
I think that's one of the things. It can be very inconvenient. And, we had some experience of that, but on a less general note, because it encapsulated a number of dear people that some are. Some didn't stay, that, uh, it's a decision. I think, it can be inconvenient. It can be a game changer.
Like I think we've all said whether I actually feel that at the time I would not be telling the truth. But I can think of something that happened recently where, we were able to be kind, uh, and they came back later and said, we both got in the car and. Did we hear that? Was that actually true? Did they actually mean what they said?
And we thought that was the gift of God to them through us. So kindness covers a huge spectrum, doesn't
it? Yeah. I mean, from my own experience, I, I. Again, I've just been thinking about a time where, where I found it hard to be kind. And that was, when we were going through, the adoption process with our, with our first daughter and the birth mother really wanted to meet with, my wife and I, and I'd read all these documents.
How awful, this person was and, how neglectful, they would be. And I, to be honest, I, I was a bit frightened, of going to meet what had been painted is this monster. And yet we came to the decision that actually it was much more for the benefit of our daughter. So that we could say in the future, what had happened a and also a little bit of, of benefit for this girl who had had their child, removed from them. And, again, so my heart was racing as we waited for her to come into the meeting room.
And, and when we, when we met this, this girl and, and, you know, She wasn't a girl. She was an adult, but she was frightened and she, she was scared and she was terrified that we were going to judge her and be mean to her and rude to her. And we'd thought exactly the same thing, but just by coming together and sharing a kind word and kind memories, like even, even talking about our daughter's favorite food.
And asking questions and spending, a good half hour , with this girl, her demeanor completely changed. She went from seeming to Bero and upset to almost glad that. That we were our daughter's parents, but that was, that was hard. That was a really, really difficult hurdle to get over.
Um, and again, I, I, I do just hope she was blessed by that meeting because I, I often find that when I'm kind, it's not just the person that I'm being kind to, who is blessed, but I am also blessed from that. It's not the reason why I do it. It's not the motive, but it is. It's kind of a bit of a, win-win really in that.
The whole thing about being intentionally kind is important and it it's, it's something that is. The big things, like what matters, just talked about the big things and the little things I, I had the, singular joy of watching the women's euros final, very recently. But I was standing in a Welsh pub, uh, surrounded by German.
Welsh pub surrounded by German tourists. And I bought a pint for a couple of them and they were blown away. And just those things, there's almost, it works the same with the prophetic. It works the same. I think with everything, whenever God does something, when God.
Intercedes, whether it's through kindness or gifts or prophecy or encouragement, people are brought up. Sure. Because it's so unexpected and it's not just the countercultural thing, it's the unexpected nature of it. And we kind of, I think come to expect being kind sometimes, maybe. Hmm. Jenny,
can I. This is a little, over the top, but I, I think it, it's probably good to say.
I think absolutely agree with you. Anne will know this. I, I dunno whether Matt was here, but about a hundred years ago, we went with rev to South Africa when Reese and Sarah Scott were running rev. Cause our girls were in there and they went, and we went with about 25 teenagers here, went to South Africa with them and. , we went there and what we were doing was a lot of work, uh, within the, all the church's context. And we went to a township where, we were digging toilets and, it was very hot. They had no tools and all the rest of it and people who were in the township came to see. What was going on and it was the Christians in the township, of course, that got, cuz you wouldn't dream of going in without them or you wouldn't come out.
Um, but people became very hostile about what we were doing because we were white. And they got very upset with me because I was the older woman. I think Liz was there, Liz Purdy, cause Liz and Colin came with us. Uh, they got very. About what's she doing here? And why is she down the whole digging with pickax and all the rest of it?
Because from their own situation, they hadn't seen kindness presumably, or they had believed that that sort of kindness never happened. And it certainly didn't happen from. A band of white people. Cause it was very much that culture to black people. And we went to several other places and the Africans people felt the same about us.
Now, we, we don't wanna get into all the politics, but it was the fact that. Bringing the love of God and serving and, being kind, was something that they just couldn't handle. And it took quite a lot of the, the people that were there to explain to them that it was, it was the love that God had given us that we wanted to share.
By serving. Uh, and by bringing something to them, it was a very special experience because it's not something any of us had had the, the teenagers were like, I dunno what that's all about. But of course it had a much bigger impact because of course in that time, that was when Desmond Tutu and all the rest of them stopped that country from bringing a blood bath.
And we actually it's a long, long time after, but you could see it resonate that this kindness was. No, we, we can't, but we just believe, and obviously the people did that seeds would be sewn. Yeah. They would see something different,
I think I agree with you. And I think, when, you meet people, you might meet someone for, a very short time.
Somebody might come across your path for just a short time. What they remember is the kindness. So, whether they've got a problem or whether you are just helping someone through a difficult time or whether it's, being a friend, they remember the kindness, that's the thing that sticks in their minds, I think.
Absolutely.
And so it is funny you say that I gave a, a lift home to, one of Esther's friends from like a night out, a month or so ago. And I, I didn't really know this lady. But what I did know was that she was extremely kind. And I felt God, on that journey home, I felt, God say, you need to tell this lady that that's who she is.
I I've plucked up the courage. And I said, you, you do realize you, you are extremely kind. And she was, she couldn't believe it. She was like, you barely know me. And yeah, I had all these examples. She's not a C. But she's kind, there's something of, , of God in that. I mean, this is made kindness has made a massive difference on, on my life.
But where have you guys seen, kindness make a difference in the lives of others?
One thing comes to mind is. When you give people time and kindness, they would always come back to you. So, , I've just a example. I've, I've got a friend and, some time ago, she was, had problems in the family and, she doesn't live very far away and I don't see her for years, but, every time something goes wrong.
She comes and she'll ask me to pray and she'll tell me the problem. And, we'll meet up and, see how it's going. And I'll, sort of walk her, walk with her through it. And she knows that she could always come back. And even though we don't see one another for ages, it's just showing, it's showing kindness.
Really it's showing the kind, she knows that I'm not going to judge her for what's going on in her family.
Thank you, Ann. Cuz that's. Taught me something, because I've often been over my lifetime. I've often been frustrated by the fact that most of the friends I've made over my life. I only ever see when things go wrong in their lives.
And that's why I think you're right. I think when people find kindness, they come back to it and it's a safety in that. And I think that's why people want to come back to God. Mm.
I suppose the one that, um, it is a specific one. It was someone of someone who was here, when we were doing other things. And this person had a lot of difficulty, a lot of difficulty and, became quite unwell. And, we spent a lot of time with this person and so did a lot of other people here.
It wasn't just us. And in many ways we found out that this person had got a lot of people trying to help her. And it worked, she was a believer. And, she came out of it. We had quite a difficult time and I mean, like, Lord, we are praying during the night, what on earth are we gonna do?
Or what are you gonna do? The end of the story was we weren't very well probably the next year, which was very unusual for us. And this person got wind of the fact that we weren't well, and we were so unwell. We were actually in bed, never been heard of. Nor before, but this was the person that phoned up and said, I want to help you.
I want to cook for you. I want to come around, etcetera, et cetera. And they really put themselves out, not to repay never in a way to repay us, but to just show that actually she'd got something of God's heart that brought her through a very, very difficult thing. We thought she might have to be sectioned.
Um, and she wasn't, and then she came back later and just said, I want to do this for you. And it, it was mind blowing. And I have to say, which I will say I'm really good at giving. I'm not all that good at receiving and God's had to teach me a lot about
that. That brings up a point. Actually. What about being kind to yourself?
Because there's something that's been quite fashionable this year. We haven't got any questions about this. This has just come up. There's something that's been quite fashionable recently. There's mental health stuff is very fashionable in how easy do you find it to receive the kindness?
And why do you think you don't find it that easy?
I think very possibly because there's an element of trust. And in fact, I've been thinking about this quite a lot recently. the people that are around me, I, I. Implicitly. And therefore my circle, if you like, is quite small. I think that's something that I suppose I felt more comfortable with.
And I think all of us doesn't matter who you are, where you are. There are certain people that you go to or certain people that are looking out for you. And those people. Tend to come back, come around and it would be wrong to say that we haven't got a close relationship cuz we have. And so there is an element of that.
I think there are times when, in some situations people will say, hi, how are you? And you'll think if I really told you how I was at the moment, I don't think that would be helpful because perhaps knowing they've got a lot going on with themselves now, whether you are judging somebody else's situation, I'm not entirely sure.
I could only say that a little bit of experience has taught me that there are some people that would. Happy to hear how I really was. And there are others that perhaps wouldn't. And so you just need a bit of discernment and just say, well, Lord, you'll just lead me to the people that I know I can, talk to.
And actually those people know where I am anyway. Mm, Nigel.
I, I think when it comes to being kind to yourself, we have to sometimes realize that God uses people around us to answer prayer. So, again, sometimes if I'll be praying for something that, that me and my family need, it may not just be this miracle from the sky mm-hmm , but actually God will send people.
It's normally the people you least expect to rally around you and he uses them as the answer. He uses other people to answer prayer. It's amazing amount of times that, that that has happened. It, it hasn't been the answer to prayer that I've expected, but it was the answer to prayer that I got, and it was so needed at the time.
Receiving kindness or receiving things. It's a strange one, isn't it? Because, uh, and it's just so lovely when you don't expect it or you least expect it. And, I I've just blown away by it, but it's not something that, I particularly look for or I wouldn't think. I wouldn't think to myself, oh, they should have been kind to me you know, or they, they should have shown kindness or something, but, I've just absolutely blown away , when it is shown.
Yeah. It's lovely. Yeah, I
think there's a, I'm gonna grope for a point here, cuz I think there's something important to be said. Sometimes we look at things like kindness in ourselves as an act of superiority and it's an act of, we are able to be kind to others. And then when people who we don't expect to be kind to us, people who might actually, we might look.
At, in some manner, which is very easy for us to do. If we are white middle class people, sometimes that can be something that can happen. Sometimes it's a bit of a shock to receive kindness from unexpected places. Maybe that's the way to put it. And I think the discipline of accepting it. On face value is something that's really valuable because it's not just an act of kindness to give to others.
It's actually an act of kindness to receive from others. I mean, Jesus, when he is feet are anointed. He didn't have to have that, that didn't make him king and yet that's what he had. And I find that absolutely fascinat. Um, I think we need to start thinking about wrapping up.
I just wanna share one of the things that's really interesting. I'm very interested in the idea of the vine and the fruit and all the rest of. One of the thing we have to remember is that the fruit of the spirit kindness in particular can seem to be very fluffy and it can seem to be a nice ideal.
But the reality is that the fruit of the spirit is the result of maturity. It's the result of having our roots deep in God. And if our roots are deep in God, then all of the fruit of the spirit. Come through and that's kindness. Two kindness is a sign of maturity, as well as love. Kindness is an aspect of love and kindness often I think is undervalued.
But if we skip forward to Galatians five, six, it says the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Kindness is an expression of love and it is a huge benefit and a huge blessing to people. And, I just want to thank you for coming and sharing time with us. I just wanna thank you for sharing, just for what you do and for who you are.
I know that, the people around you are blessed just because you are you and you are, you. Because your roots are deep in Jesus and your roots are deep in Jesus because you've spent time doing it. So thank you guys for coming and Matt's gonna tie up. Yeah. So
yeah, let's look back at the original question.
How powerful is kindness in both the life of a Christian and the people we meet? Well, from what you've said, pretty powerful and it makes a huge difference in people's lives. Anything else that you want to add to, to answer that?
There's diversity in the Bible. Isn't there always try to be kind to each other. I can't remember where it
comes from. the Bible comes from the Bible, the new Testament.
so there's just one other thing that I, I read, um, living outta kindness is putting feet on your faith. Wow,
so that some wise words, but, well, thank you so much for joining us.
We, we really appreciate, you spending time with us, uh, delivering wise words to us, we, we are really blessed by that. Thank you, Anne. And
Jenny, thank you.