Message from our Pastorate
Dear Friends
This Christmas, when there is so much pressure on people and so much
hardship for many, it seems to me that we must get back to the basics
of giving. My little book reminds me:
“A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a
great deal of money”
I remember only too well the time when my family in the coalmines in
Durham were affected by the miners’ strike, which lasted a whole year.
Two sisters and their families were supported through this dreadful
time by the kindness of others. My husband, Terry, spent a great deal
of time and effort “re-cycling” a bike for one of our nieces that
Christmas, he even got special black paint to do the wheels so it looked
like new. Yet it was the kindness of strangers, which made such an
impact on our family at the time.
When Jesus, in answer to the question, “Who is my neighbour?” told
the parable of the Good Samaritan it was the kindness of the stranger,
the outcast, we saw. When Jesus performed his first miracle at Cana
when he turned the water into wine; it wasn’t done for effect, to prove
his powers- it was done as an act of kindness.
A quotation from the Talmud says: “When a person does a good deed
when he or she didn’t have to, God looks down and smiles and says”
For this moment alone it was worth creating the world”
The wonderful thing about an act of kindness is that anybody of any
age in any situation can do it – you don’t have to be special, you just
have to be human! The act of kindness, which I most appreciated, came
from a class of 12 year olds. I’d been called out from teaching them to
be told of the sudden death of my dad. The following week these
children had a box of chocolates and a picture for me “… so that you’ll
have some good memories when you come to teach us.”
“Even the smallest act of kindness says, “I care”, says, “You
matter”, says, “I thought of you”.
How important this is at the moment when so many people feel
desperate, lost and unimportant. Everybody needs to know they are
valued and an act of kindness may simply be making time for someone or
even just having a kind word.
According to Mohammed: “A person’s true wealth is the good he or
she does in the world” which reinforces my original concept as does
the quotation from William Penn: “I expect to pass through life but
once. If therefore there be any kindness I can show, or do, any
good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now and not
defer or neglect it as I shall not pass this way again.”
Paul, in Galatians tells us, “…the Spirit produces love, joy, peace,
patience, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, humility and selfcontrol”
and he urges us; “So then, as often as we have the chance,
we should do good to everyone”. An act of kindness is something
therefore that should be as much a part of Christian life as the act of
breathing!
This is what we must remember as we move forward to celebrate God’s
ultimate kindness in giving us his son. We can ALL make a difference in
our world not just this Christmas but throughout the year and the
amazing thing is that – as my little book reminds me:
“When you carry out acts of kindness you get a wonderful feeling
inside. It’s as though something inside your body responds and
says, “Yes, this is how I ought to feel”.
May God be with us all this Christmas and may He be seen in us through
acts of kindness.
Love to you all
Chris Lomax xx
