Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

“See a need, fill a need” was a motto on the campus of Concordia University Nebraska when our daughter was a student there, becoming a well-loved phrase for our family.

The passage in Ephesians led me to think about how this motto still plays out in my life: Singing to a crying baby; holding open a door for a stranger on a windy day; collecting funds for a church project; or perhaps just overlooking hurt feelings caused by others.

Recognizing and filling a need when we are able reminds us of God’s grace toward each of us, with tenderhearted words or actions that go a long way in enjoying our days with a healthy purpose of kindness toward others.

Denise Seaman
Clive, IA

Dear Lord, strengthen me with a spirit of grace and joy, helping me to see the needs of those around me. Amen.

Reflect: Saved only by God’s grace, how are our works helpful to us and others?

Read: Proverbs 31:31 and Titus 3:8