If the road was crowded with cars, God would pause so that you could pull out in front of him. If God made it to the door ahead of you, God would hold it open so you could go first. If God saw trash in your yard, he would pick it up and throw it away for you. If you didn’t have a meal, God would give you his. God is kind and God is good. And Scripture teaches that God’s greatest act of kindness is Jesus.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.

(Titus 3:4–6, NIV).

The Lenten season begins in two weeks, and I have been giving these pre-Easter days some extra thought. My waistline would benefit if I gave up sugar. My stress levels would change if I gave up electronics. (I would have to give up working, however, so I’m pretty sure that would be a bad idea.) I could give up other things, but I’m not sure how that would impact me spiritually.

Do you make a Lenten commitment? (I would love for you to share your comments . . . you will need to click the “Join the Conversation” button at the bottom.) I was thinking of my own commitment and wondering what that should be. Then, after a simple trip to the post office, I was led to think about not what I would give up, but something I wanted to give.

I had just received a big box and it was heavy. I was trying to hold onto my purse, grasp my mail, and carry an oversized, heavy cardboard box to my car. As I came to the door two people walked past me, exited and never looked back. The third person was coming in the door, saw me, stopped and smiled. He held the door and then reached over to open the other door to so that I could fit the big box through.He asked if I needed help getting it to the car, but I told him I was fine. I smiled, thanked him, and then took my mail home.

It was a simple gesture of kindness on that man’s part, but it meant a lot to me. As I drove home I found myself wondering why. Simple kindness should be the norm, but that day at the post office, it was an exception. I am typically quick to hold a door, but there have been times when I was in a hurry and didn’t pay attention. Sometimes I hold the door, but I don’t meet the person’s eye and smile. I often hold the door without saying anything at all. This man held the door, smiled, and spoke to me. He was kind.

So, I think I am going to focus my Lenten season on giving kindness instead of giving up something. I know that kindness shouldn’t be just for a season, but maybe if I place that focus on my life for a season it will form a godly habit in this hurried life I lead.

But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us . . . through the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. Jesus was and is the kindness of God. I think Jesus would be pleased if I allowed him, through his Holy Spirit, to give away kindness to others. I think Jesus would be honored if we made that our commitment for the Lenten season.

It is two weeks until the Lenten season begins. I think God would approve if I did a LOT of practicing between now and March 1st. God is kind and God is good. Jesus is the “kindness of God.” Please Lord, may we be like you.