Did you know there is a day for random acts of kindness? On February 17, people all over the world are encouraged to do random acts of kindness – paying for someone else’s coffee, helping someone with their groceries, baby-sitting the neighbor kids for free. These random acts of kindness can inspire love and community among people. But why do we need to have a day for it? Shouldn’t we be able to be kind all the time?

The fruits of the Spirit are qualities that develop in followers of Christ. One of the most evident fruits that a Christ-follower should display is kindness to others. As Ephesians says, we are to be kind and tenderhearted to one another. Yet, many of us Christians do not have the reputation for kindness. Sometimes we are considered judgmental or boastful.

 The truth is that it can be hard to be kind. It is easy to be focused on our own lives. We can overlook the people around us. But Jesus noticed. He saw the woman at the well, he knew the sadness of the centurion, and he told Zacchaeus to come down.

As Christ-followers, our kindness isn’t random. It is because of Christ’s love in us. When we are kind to others, they will see Christ living in us, and we can change the world: one specific act of kindness at a time.        

This is Luis Palau.