One Random Act: The Fruit of the Spirit is Kindness...

Ah, the crazy, lazy, hazy days of summer are nearly upon us.

What is it about the Florida heat that makes us forget our manners?

Here's a real-life scenario (it happened to me last week):

In the heat of the moment, when the air conditioner in your mini-van conks out and you're waiting for everyone in the library to leave after it closes because you're stuck behind a stop sign and the perspiration trickling down your back is the only respite in your red hot four-door sauna...
 
How can you possibly be kind or have kind thoughts for that matter? 

Conversely, no one seems to have even the slightest bit of compassion on a mommy with a van full of kids about to melt in their gas-guzzling army tank.

Car after car drives by and stops at the red light, not noticing, not caring.

It's a dog eat dog, hard knock life, and you've got to push your way to the front of the bread line before the last crumb is taken or the light burns bright red. 

Right?

And, that is when

The person, I least expected,

The guy who was hairy all over, except on his head,

With windows rolled down and a broken a/c himself,

stops.

He nods at me to go ahead of him.

A simple kindness, from a complete stranger.

He didn't have to do that.

But, he did.

What grace!

I was humbled.

It sets the pace for me to be willing to put others first, let kindness count, and delight in being a servant, which by the way, by the grace of God, in the power of the Holy Spirit, I can do.
  
Even in a sweltering minivan with no a/c.

"And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8 HCSB)