Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Mercy is simply being kind to someone who was not kind to you. Marcus had laughed at Ruth's drawing, so he had earned nothing from her. She gave him her toast anyway, and something in him softened.
That is exactly what God does with you. He is kind when you are grumpy. He is patient when you are rude. He does not wait for you to become better first. He simply gives, and then He hands you the same kindness and trusts you to pass it along.
Today you can do one kind thing and tell absolutely nobody. Leave the extra snack where someone will find it. Pick up what a classmate dropped. No hints, no stories at dinner, no waiting for a thank you. Let the kindness stay hidden, the way God's kindness so often does.
🌸Being Kind
The Toast She Never Explained
Kindness that costs something is the mercy Jesus talks about.
October 2, 20262 min readNIV
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
— Matthew 5:7 (NIV)
Merciful
Today's Story
✍️Fictitious Story
A bead of sweat ran down the plastic cup on the playground bench, and the afternoon heat pressed on Ruth's neck. She saw Marcus at the far end, one shoelace snapped, his toast still wrapped. He had laughed at her drawing the day before, so she walked past him once. Then the bell buzzed and every other child ran inside, and Marcus could not make two loops with the frayed string. Ruth sat down beside him and tied the lace tight. She unwrapped her own toast, broke it in half, and held a piece out without a word. Marcus took it and chewed slowly. "You didn't have to," he said. Ruth picked up his bag and held the door open. "I know," she said, and he followed her inside.
Reflection
Think About It
• What is one kind thing someone did for you when you did not deserve it? • When kindness costs you something, what usually makes you want to hold back?
Prayer
Father, You are kind to me when I am not kind, so make me kind like that today, and I trust that the mercy I give will come back to me through Jesus. Amen.
Live It Out
Perform one anonymous act of kindness today and don't tell anyone about it.