Kindness or Love?

Have you ever thought of kindness as distinct from love? I never really thought about it until the subject came up in our Sunday School class. We were discussing the list of personal qualities found in the New Testament book of 2nd Peter, chapter one: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Our teacher made the observation that if this is a sequential list, then kindness comes before love.

I think we make deliberate decisions to be kind, regardless of how we’re feeling at the time. We make these decisions because we know there are single moms who really need and value our expression of compassion. Our awesome volunteers make these choice decisions to express kindness, often in the face of straining work schedules and adverse health conditions.

Beyond the Walls oil change for single moms gives us a vehicle for this deliberate kindness. A simple oil change is a tangible expression of kindness. If our kindness has the right motive then it cannot help but erupt in genuine love.
I love how the Message Bible reads, “So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.”

Ministry Outreach

My heart swelled today with gratitude when I viewed the contribution of the volunteers at the oil change outreach. When thrust into new assignments or a different room location, team members responded with the same exemplary service we’ve grown accustomed too. There’s no doubt our volunteer team has learned to roll-with-the-punches of weather changes (good ‘ole Ozarks), fluctuation in volunteer levels, and client demand. I’m proud of our volunteers!

Today I saw our lady volunteers engaged in genuine conversation with the single moms…I saw our men in the registration area completing the paperwork with excellence…I saw our greeters being gentle and courteous towards the single moms…I saw our lady volunteers in the café area serving single moms with smiles and encouragement…and I saw our men in the oil change area working with diligence to complete the vehicle inspections and oil change. Wow, what a team!

And to top off this spectacular morning, Central’s MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group shared their resources in ministry with the single moms. They brought boxes of good used-clothing, toys, and a large cake to share with the single moms. In addition, each single mom received a potting plant to take home. It turned out great and the single moms were very appreciative! Thank you MOPS!