Kindness is Gifting a Banana

Scroll down for the Landing Page (aka Table of Contents) information for this Kindness series.

So many of us like to show affection by gifting food to others.

1. We bring a cake to the office, just because.
2. We take two dozen, straight-out-of- the-oven cookies to our next door neighbor.
3. We fill a container with tasty leftovers for a single person at our church.

This sounds nice, right? Not always.

• If your office workmates are on a diet, your cake is a hindrance.
• If your neighbor is vegan and your cookies have eggs and butter, this gesture is not welcome.
• If your single friend just doesn’t like leftovers, this food gift will annoy them.

In each of these cases, the food will be wasted. You may be considered inconsiderate if they expressed their wishes of not eating certain foods and you forced your gift anyways. Feelings could be hurt because the recipient thought you were not being kind.

My sister recently hung a banana on my office doorknob. (We work in the same building.)  I’d say my sister was being kind because really I shouldn’t eat candy on account of my diabetes.

Kindness is being . . .

• attentive,
• considerate,
• friendly, and
• thoughtful.

It was attentive, considerate, friendly, and thoughtful that she didn’t give me a sugar-laden treat.

And to top it off, this banana had freckles. I enjoy freckled bananas. Jenny prefers her bananas freckle-free. So we both benefitted from her thoughtful, kind act.

It is kind to follow the food preferences of our family and friends. If they don’t eat gluten, salad, meat, or whatever, don’t try to change their palettes. We don’t have to agree with or understand their choices or their reasons. Let’s be kind by supporting one another’s food decisions.

Your Turn . . . 

• When was the last time someone pushed food on you that you didn’t appreciate? How did that make you feel?
• When was the last time someone gifted you food that you did appreciate? How did that make you feel?
• Would you like to make a change in this area? If yes, what will you do.

Related Posts . . .

• 5 Reasons Salad is a Bother
• Food Should be Safe & Fun Besides Tasty
• How Church is Like Ice Cream

And to top it off, this banana had freckles. I enjoy freckled bananas. Jenny prefers her bananas freckle-free. So we both benefitted from her thoughtful, kind act.

It is kind to follow the food preferences of our family and friends. If they don’t eat gluten, salad, leftovers, or whatever, don’t try to change their minds. We don’t have to agree with or understand their choices or their reasons. Let’s be kind by supporting one another’s food decisions.

Your Turn . . . 

• When was the last time someone pushed food on you that you didn’t appreciate? How did that make you feel?
• When was the last time someone gifted you food that you did appreciate? How did that make you feel?
• Would you like to make a change in this area? If yes, what will you do?

Related Posts . . .

• 5 Reasons Salad is a Bother
• Food Should be Safe & Fun Besides Tasty
• How Church is Like Ice Cream

You can practice being kind by leaving me a comment. 

Please leave me an idea or two that I can add to my acts of kindness list. The idea can be intentional or random.

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Want to know what other acts of Kindness are on the list? Go to my Landing Page . . . Scattering Kindness: A 31 Day Adventure of Intentional & Random Acts of Service.