The kindness you forgot

It was my 4th grade year. I was the shy, quiet kid in the back of the room, trying not to be noticed. There was a disagreement between another girl and me — the kind of thing that can feel world-shaking when you’re 10 years old. It escalated to a call from my mom to the teacher, and then the teacher called both of us to the front of the classroom.
It was an uncomfortable moment. Because I was quieter and less known, most of the kids naturally sided with the other girl. I stood alone in a sea of sideways glances and silent judgment. In the end, when everything came to light, I was found to be in the right. Later that afternoon, one of my classmates came over to offer a heartfelt apology. It wasn’t dramatic — just a quiet moment of kindness I’ve never forgotten.
Nearly 40 years later, just before our class reunion, I had the chance to remind that now-grown woman of what she did. She didn’t remember it at all. To her, the moment had been erased by time. But I remembered — because kindness, even when it feels small, can leave a lifelong imprint.
The Scriptures teach us about kindness. Jesus tells a parable where acts of compassion — feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, caring for the sick — are seen not just as good deeds but as service to Christ Himself. “Whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for me” (Matthew 25:35-40).
We see this same spirit in the story of Ruth. After tragedy struck her family, Ruth could return to her homeland. Instead, she chose to stay and care for her mother-in-law, Naomi. Her loyalty, devotion, and faithfulness did not go unnoticed. Boaz, a relative of Naomi, saw the character of Ruth and called it blessed. In time, her kindness formed the foundation of a beautiful future that would eventually lead to the lineage of Christ.
In the New Testament, Jesus told a story about a man who stopped for a stranger on the side of the road (Luke 10:25–37). The man had been beaten, robbed, and left for dead. Others walked past without a second glance. But when a Samaritan passed by, he showed great compassion. He dressed the man’s wounds and provided shelter and care until he recovered. That simple act of kindness is still remembered to this day.
When was the last time you experienced an act of kindness that stayed with you? Or have you ever offered kindness and wondered if it made a difference? That one apology I received on the playground didn’t change the facts of the disagreement, but it changed the weight I carried from it — and how I view the world. It is a reminder that kindness can ease pain, bridge misunderstandings, and linger far beyond the moment. The girl who offered that kindness may have forgotten it — I didn’t. Because when someone reaches toward you with compassion, it stays with you.
Kindness still has the power to break through in a world that often feels loud with anger, divided by opinions, and quick to judge. It may not make headlines, yet it can soften a heart, lift a burden, and remind someone they’re not alone. So be kind — not just when it’s easy or expected, but when it’s inconvenient and unnoticed by others.
I promise you: someone will remember. And God always sees.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you… then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:3–4).

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.