Thoughtfulness and kindness are the same species. But thoughtfulness is more specific in its expression than general kindness. I like to think of thoughtfulness as custom tailored kindness. When you’re thoughtful toward someone, it blesses them on two levels-they’re encouraged by both the act and the sentiment. In many cases, the thought behind the gift or service means more than the expression itself.
I like to remind the people in my life that I value them by letting them know I was thinking of them. I enjoy buying clothes for my staff members and my mentors. (And of course, my wife.) It’s a personalized gift that requires me to have some knowledge of their style and preferences. Plus, it’s awfully fun to stretch their fashion boundaries a little on occasion. I try to keep ‘em looking good.
If I’m reading a book that makes me think of someone I care about, I’ll usually send them a copy with a quick note: I read this and thought you’d enjoy it.
I was really surprised when John Bishop, our Ministries Pastor, told me that one of the turning points in his leadership was the time I gave him a certain book along with the comment that I thought he’d like it. He said it made him feel like I really believed in him. To me, it was just a book! But simple, custom tailored kindness can go a long way.
As I’ve tried to stress in each of these entries, this type of thoughtfulness doesn’t have to be expensive. One of the most thoughtful things ever done for my family involved a group of men from Elevation who came over to clear brush in my backyard on a Saturday morning. There’s not much on a material level they could have given me that would have meant as much as their willingness to give up a Saturday morning to take care of their Pastor’s family.
Custom tailored thoughtfulness takes a basic act of kindness to the next level.
It reminds others of their unique worth to you, and ultimately, to God.