“Let us be Kind”

 A few days ago, this poem landed on my electronic desk from the “Discover Poetry” website, and it occurred to me that” Being Kind “ was an important part of our common humanity. As someone who occasionally watches Prime Minister’s Question Time, I am often struck that a bit more kindness wouldn’t go amiss in the nation’s debating chamber as well!

 Kind is such a simple word. In this context, I am thinking of the word defined as: “having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature”. It means that someone who is kind behaves in a gentle, caring, and helpful way towards other people and, also, themselves.

 As I read through this short poem, which takes us on our journey through life it points out moments when, how and why we should be kind. Unsurprisingly perhaps, it also reminded me of the famous passage from St Paul’s Letter to the people of Corinth. ‘Love’ and ‘Kind’ almost seem interchangeable. Certainly, the attributes of love, especially those we associate with friendship, in this passage are part of the nature of being kind.

 Love is patient; love is kind;

love is not envious or boastful or arrogant  or rude.

It does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful; 

it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. 

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 Love never ends.  

(Corinthians 13:4-8a  - NRSV Anglicised)

 The poem was written in the latter part of the 19^th century or early part of the 20^th century by Walter Lomax Childress ( 1867-1936).  He became a Christian Protestant minister, a writer, a hymnist, and a poet, so he would have been well-aware of the passage from St Paul.

 It is short and simple in some way  but teases out some important parts of life’s journey. 

 Let Us Be Kind - by Walter Lomax Childress 

Let us be kind; 

The way is long and lonely, 

 And human hearts are asking for this blessing only — 

 That we be kind. 

 We cannot know the grief that men may borrow, 

 We cannot see the souls storm-swept by sorrow, 

 But love can shine upon the way to-day, to-morrow — 

 Let us be kind.

Let us be kind; 

This is a wealth that has no measure, 

This is of Heaven and earth the highest treasure — 

 Let us be kind. 

 A tender word, a smile of love in meeting, 

 A song of hope and victory to those retreating,

A glimpse of God and brotherhood while life is fleeting —

Let us be kind.

Let us be kind; 

Around the world the tears of time are falling, 

And for the loved and lost these human hearts are calling — 

 Let us be kind. 

 To age and youth let gracious words be spoken; 

 Upon the wheel of pain so many lives are broken, 

 We live in vain who give no tender token — 

  Let us be kind.

Let us be kind; 

The sunset tints will soon be in the west, 

Too late the flowers are laid then on the quiet breast — 

 Let us be kind. 

 And when the angel guides have sought and found us, 

 Their hands shall link the broken ties of earth that bound us, 

 And Heaven and home shall brighten all around us — 

 Let us be kind.

Sources

Holy Bible - New Revised Standard Version. The Bible Society

Discover Poetry - https://discoverpoetry.com

 Submitted by Roger Verrall October 8^th 2023.