Having grown up in the church, I’ve had the fruits of the spirit memorized in song form since I was 5 years old.

🎶 The fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-controooooooool 🎶

It’s a passage I’ve read and heard sermons on many times. But one of these words I think can be easily misunderstood, and that is – kindness.

When explaining kindness we often use “niceness” as a synonym. But kindness is so much more than simply being nice. We tell kids who aren’t sharing their toys to “be nice” which can translate to “don’t be mean.” Kindness isn’t just not being mean. Kindness is going out of your way to show someone you care.

Like this —

View this post on Instagram

(Long Island, NY): After 13 years working as a UPS driver, Gregory Watkins Sr., was surprised by this neighborhood with a celebration and gifts after working through the pandemic—for always going above and beyond- whether it’s taking out the trash for an elderly person or delivering medicine. MORE IN STORIES! #### Después de 13 años de trabajar para UPS, Gregori Watkins Sr., fue sorprendido por este vecindario con una celebración y regalos con agradecimiento por su dedicación durante la pandemia – aparte de entregar paquetes también sacaba la basura para ancianos y les traía sus medicamentos. Felicitaciones! Mas en mis stories! Video credit: Christine Grazia

A post shared by Good News Movement (@goodnews_movement) on Jun 9, 2020 at 11:58am PDT

Kindness is exactly what UPS driver, Gregory Watkins, showed when he went above and beyond to take out the trash for the elderly in this neighborhood. And kindness is exactly what the neighborhood showed back to Gregory in response.

Because kindness is contagious.

Maybe during this pandemic we can all work to spread contagious kindness. It might just change the world!