I’ll be honest — I rewrote this post more times than I can count. When I was asked to contribute for Random Acts of Kindness Day, I was honored, but every draft felt off. I finally realized why during my church small group.
We’ve been reading Living Jesus by Randy Harris, and one chapter resonated with me deeply. I didn’t want this post to sound like, “Look at me and all the kind things I do.” Because the kindness I try to live out isn’t mine to take credit for.
It’s God’s.
He’s the one who places us in the right moment to reflect His love.
Jesus speaks to this tension clearly. In Matthew 5:16, He calls us to let our light shine so others glorify God. Then in Matthew 6:3, He reminds us to give quietly, without drawing attention to ourselves.
Kindness may look random — but it isn’t accidental.
It is God-breathed.
It flows through us, not from us.
We are vessels of His kindness.
When we live this way:
- Our actions point people to God, not ourselves
- Our hearts stay rooted in humility
- Our kindness becomes worship, not performance
I know what it’s like to search for God without understanding Him. I wasn’t raised in church and spent years feeling like something was missing. Looking back, I see now that He was always there — I just didn’t know how to connect.
Because of that, I never want to miss a chance to let someone see God through me.
During my seven years at York University, that has meant serving wherever there was a need — often behind the scenes, where the most meaningful work happens quietly and without recognition.
I used to worry that being thanked somehow took away from honoring God. But I’ve learned that when gratitude comes, I can simply redirect it back to Him. Not every kind act can be hidden — what matters is the heart behind it.
As we recognize Random Acts of Kindness Day, remember that everyone is fighting battles we cannot see. When we pour out the love God gives us — especially when it isn’t returned — we live the kind of lives Jesus modeled.
I try to remember the Golden Rule: treating others how I want to be treated, not how they treat me. Let's be honest — if Jesus had responded by treating everyone exactly as they treated Him, the Bible would have been a very different story! What kind of role model would he have made?
— Mallory Smith, Resident Director of Studebaker Hall