CHRISTIAN COMMENT: Spread a little kindness

It came to her turn to be served and she continued her conversation.

She barely acknowledged the member of staff who served her, let alone offered a thank you.

The member of staff looked grim, others in the queue tutted and it all added to a rather miserable day.

On another occasion, I saw a woman with a fairly full trolley allow the person behind her to go first because she had fewer items.

The two struck up a conversation and there were smiles all round.

What a difference a little bit of courtesy makes!

Good manners matter. They make life better for everyone, including ourselves.

Reciprocity is a buzz word among modern life coaches, but Jesus taught this truth to his disciples 2000 years ago.

“Here is a simple rule of thumb for behaviour: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!

“Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier.

“Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (From Luke 6 The Message).

We should never underestimate the impact of little kindnesses: opening the door for someone, letting a harassed driver into your queue of traffic, saying please and thank you.

Small things perhaps, but if enough people practise them, they can result in big changes.

Imagine what life could be like if we all took the advice of John Wesley (1703-91), the founder of The Methodist denomination: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

Let’s do it!