Being the kindness that you wish to see in the world

“A hero is unsung until the moment they win applause,
but the truest, bravest heroes hardly ever win applause.”

Heroism is a fickle idea! Some people become heroes because they chose to do the right thing at the right time and were noticed. Sometimes these people spend the rest of their lives trying to live up to a standard that a whole community insist they live up to. Occasionally, such a hero goes from the initial popularity to achieve something truly great.

Heroism is fickle also to the opposite degree: sometimes people are targeted as rogues unfairly, simply because one poor moment painted them into the corner of outrage.

But I guess most of the time, by characterisation, heroes are heroes and villains are villains.

But what is the make-up of the true hero?

I think the true hero is someone who is kind enough to see heroes everywhere in the common life. These are the parents of children with disabilities, a father or mother who sacrifices what they could have to bring up their children correctly, and any person who perseveres against the odds. It’s the student who studies fulltime, balancing the demands of supporting themselves for years before they graduate. It’s those who endure financial hardship yet don’t give up. It’s the person or family living in a foreign land far from loved ones. It’s anyone who’s ever loved much and lost. Yes, it’s the person who’s lost it all and who has steadily rebuilt their lives in persevering faith. It’s the one who has carried others’ burdens. That’s heroism.

Heroes are everywhere and anywhere where people go above and beyond in doing the right thing.

I wonder if the essence of being kind is merely noticing the heroism in the common, ordinary life, and simply calling encouraging attention to it. This would have the function of putting courage into those who might otherwise be tempted to give up; those dozens of individual people and families in our orbit who may not see the heroism that is on display in them simply living their lives as they do.

Imagine being a person who notices impressive and inspiring things. The person who is close to God has the privilege of observing the goodness in life. They may not be harried to such a point where they have no scope for seeing. They insist upon disciplines that keep them present to the things going on around them.

Their gift to the world may simply be to notice the wonderfully ordinary yet persevering traits of many heroes who never win applause.

These may never see how God uses them with perfect timelines in a mere yet poignant word of encouragement or act of random kindness. They may not see how the execution of such kindness as its very own heroism. The best of heroes never make these connections, for they are too interested in others, and of giving to others what God intends others to have.

They’ve learned that the more you give away,
the more blessing you receive spiritually from God.

I wonder if kindness is the truest heroism. Such a commitment to live for others, to encourage others without thought of gain, is the most benevolent of purposes.

The kinder a person is, the more they may resist being highlighted as a hero. They will wish not to be noticed at all, and yet these are the most deserving of the tag of heroism.

Another thing a kind person may never see is the hope, joy and peace they embody. Their very presence in our lives is a gift. Think of them and thank them today.

Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash