我母親曾接受安寧照護，度過人生最後一段時光。在那段期間，護理之家一位看護的真誠善意，令我深受感動。這位看護會輕輕地將我孱弱的母親從椅子上抱起來，讓她躺在床上，蓋好被子之後，還會俯身輕撫著母親的頭，對她說：「妳真可愛。」接著，她會關心我過得如何。不只在當下，直到如今，我只要想到她的善良都會感動流淚。

這位看護所做的只是一個微小的善行，但正是我當時所需要的。這幫助我面對母親的臨終過程，因在這位看護眼中，我母親不只是一個病人，她在乎我母親並視她為有價值的人。

在拿俄米和路得因失去丈夫而無依無靠的時候，波阿斯善待路得，允許她跟在收割的人後面，拾取落下的麥穗。波阿斯甚至吩咐那些負責收割的男僕不可欺負她（路得記2章8-9節）。波阿斯以恩慈相待是因為路得盡心照顧婆婆拿俄米，正如他對路得說：「自從妳丈夫死後，凡妳向婆婆所行的，……這些事人全都告訴我了」（11節）。波阿斯並未將路得視為外邦人或寡婦，而是一個需要幫助的婦女。

上帝要我們「存憐憫、恩慈、謙虛、溫柔、忍耐的心」（歌羅西書3章12節）。當上帝幫助我們，我們微小的善行就能鼓舞人心、帶來盼望，並激發他人的善意。

When my mom was in hospice and nearing her last days on earth, I was touched by the genuine kindness of a nursing home caregiver. After gently lifting my frail mother from her chair and tucking her into bed, the nursing assistant caressed Mom’s head while leaning over her to say, “You are so sweet.” Then she asked how I was doing. Her kindness moved me to tears then and still does today.

Hers was a simple act of kindness, but it was just what I needed in that moment. It helped me to cope, knowing that in this woman’s eyes my mom wasn’t just a patient. She cared for and saw her as a person of great worth.

When Naomi and Ruth were bereft after the loss of their husbands, Boaz showed kindness to Ruth by allowing her to glean leftover grain behind the harvesters. He even ordered the male harvesters to leave her alone (Ruth 2:8-9). His kindness was prompted by Ruth’s care for Naomi: “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband” (v. 11). He saw her not as a foreigner or widow but as a woman in need.

God wants us to “clothe [ourselves] with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). As God helps us, our simple acts of kindness can cheer hearts, bring hope, and inspire kindness in others.