How To Kindle A Fire

 

The native people showed us

         unusual kindness,

for they kindled a fire

and welcomed us all,

because it had begun

    to rain and was cold.

           Acts 28. 2 

Kindle a fire

   in some way today

to fill the brokenness

  in lives all around us.

It cannot be contained,

    nor ever forgotten.

Ignite the gospel

   in tangible ways.

Let the love of Jesus

     heal wounds,

even those carefully disguised.

We are all desperate 

  to feel accepted,

valued and supported.

No exceptions.

May we never underestimate

  the immense power

  of unexpected kindness

toward strangers,

   friends and

            even family,

unexpected because

   a true kindness is never earned.

And we witness

  so little of it in this world.

O LORD,

We don't know what to do

   and how to respond,

but when our eyes are on You,

we see this situation

             and others differently.

We know a new way through

    with a fresh heart.

Help us to do the kind thing.

Help us to do it

   even when it is hard,

even when our pride

      tries to stop us.

Strengthen us through the grace

   which You have given us

   and forgiven us.

Help us to kindle kindness

  in unlikely places,

no matter if we ever

          see the outcome.

Because You do.