THE KINDNESS FACTOR

Wednesday - September 13, 2023

Posted

“‘Don't be afraid,’ David said to him, ‘for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.’” – 2 Samuel 9:7

In his book “Incarnate Leadership”, author Bill Robinson writes: “On Monday morning, February 2008, every sports page in the world heralded the New York Giants’ astonishing Super Bowl upset over the undefeated New England Patriots. And the big story within the story? Giants’ head coach, Tom Coughlin, pulled off the shocker with…nice. Entering the season with his boss grumbling, “He’s our coach this year; we’ll see what happens after that,” Coughlin decided he needed a leadership makeover. Jackie McMullen of the Boston Globe reported an incident that took place on media day, seventy-two hours before the big game:

A boy no more than eight or nine years old was handed a microphone…and he made a beeline toward Giants’ coach Tom Coughlin, who, spotting the junior inquisitor, leaned over in an almost grandfatherly fashion and tenderly attended to his question. “I hear you’ve been a lot nicer this year,” said the child. “Who put you up to that?” Said the coach to gales of laughter.

Tom Coughlin met with his veteran players after going 8-8 in the 2007 season. They told him he yelled too much, communicated too little, and listened barely at all. Veteran player Michael Strahan calls the change “a transformation, sometimes I barely recognize him.” (Boston Globe, January 30, 2008)

Tom Coughlin spent three years trying to change his players. It didn’t work. So he decided to change himself. And that’s what changed his players. Now they’re all sporting Super Bowl rings.”

One of the best testimonies of Jesus Christ is the kindness we show to others. Today, in prayer, praise Jesus for His kindness towards you and seek to be kind to others.

“To ease another's heartache is to forget one's own.” – Abraham Lincoln

God’s Word: “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” - Colossians 3:12