The week of February 11th – During the month of February, your family will focus on the virtue of kindness. Each week you will gather together and reflect on God’s kindness and the ways you can be kind to yourself and to others. Find a time this week to gather as a family, say a prayer, read or listen to a prompt, respond as a family to what you have heard and then act on the suggestion for the week.
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February Virtue Kindness: showing others they are valuable by how you treat them
What is a virtue? A virtue is something that God does in us to change the world around us.
GATHER together in prayer
LISTEN through scripture; readings; stories; music; videos
RESPOND to what you have heard
ACT in service to what God is calling you to
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GATHER
Gather together as a family and pray this prayer:
Gracious God,
Give us a passion
for being kind
towards ourselves,
towards others,
and towards all of your creation.
Be with us,
we pray,
and help us to be ever mindful
that our acts of kindness
– no matter how small –
spread your love
in the world. Amen.
LISTEN
Have one person in your family read the Old Testament story of Ruth & Naomi: Ruth 1:1-18.
This Bible passage can be found online at Bible Gateway via this link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth+1%3A1-18&version=NRSV
On YouTube, listen to the song “I’m with You (Ruth & Naomi): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdS8UYBDHsk
RESPOND
In this biblical story, Naomi has moved with her husband and two sons from her hometown of Bethlehem to the country of Moab. Her sons marry women in Moab. Naomi’s husband dies and then her two sons die. Ruth is in trouble without any male family members to shelter and protect her. She is vulnerable and could become homeless. So, Naomi decides to go back to her own family in Bethlehem.
Naomi’s daughter in laws would traditionally return to their own families too. But one of them, Ruth, wants to stay with Naomi and accompany her on her journey to Bethlehem. Ruth breaks with tradition to care for Naomi. It is a huge act of kindness for Ruth to leave her own family and country for Ruth’s sake. Ruth makes the long journey with Naomi and settles with her in a country where she is now the foreigner without protection.
ACT
Often kindness requires putting aside our own needs and taking care of the needs of others. Like what Ruth did for Naomi, kindness can involve journeying with someone through a difficult time. Can you think a person who’s having a difficult time right now? What can you do to support them? What will you need to put aside in order to show them that you value them and are there for them? As a family, make a plan to show kindness to someone who is struggling this week.
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Food for Thought
You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. – Amelia Earhart
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. – Oscar Wilde
But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” – Ruth 1:16 (Bible)