Have you ever eaten a KIND® Bar? You know, those snacks that boast nutritional benefits but taste good, too? I’ve been known to grab a box at Costco occasionally.
I thought that was all I needed to know about these nourishing snacks. But nope! I heard something recently that seared something entirely different upon my heart. I’ll never look at KIND® Bars the same way again.
When asked about his reasoning for the product’s name, the owner’s voice softened and his demeanor stilled.
You see, Daniel Lubetzky, who created the KIND® Bar, happens to be the son of a Holocaust survivor.
As you can imagine, Daniel’s father kept many of those experiences to himself, the terror too vile for words. Reliving the trauma proved too agonizing. But, in a rare moment when Daniel’s father felt compelled to vocalize his remembrances, he mentioned one Nazi officer among the sea of soldiers tormenting the Jews.
Nazi soldiers trained to become proficient in terrorizing the Jews who managed to endure another day. They were thrilled to watch prisoners succumb to starvation and disease before they ever arrived at the gas chambers.
However, Daniel’s dad began to share through his tears how he survived to even have a son to tell. “You see, that one Nazi officer waited until no one was looking, then often threw me a potato.”
Unless you know what it means to literally be at death’s door from starvation, it’s impossible to realize the significance of this courageous act.
The perceived enemy put his life on the line to feed one he was supposed to loathe and even eliminate.
When nine-year-old Daniel heard his dad recount this brave moment, it profoundly altered something within him. Even this young, naïve boy recognized that without that soldier’s kindness and courage, Daniel would likely not be alive today.
THIS inspired him to call his upstart company…KIND! (I told you it’s impossible to see a KIND® Bar the same way again!)
That one brave soldier could have never imagined in that moment that the imprisoned, desperate child would one day have a son. And this son would build his whole company upon spreading KINDness around the world, all because (and only because) of this soldier’s actions.
This whole scenario leaves me asking myself…what small thing can I do that may eventually make a big difference?
Where can I color outside the lines of what is expected for the purpose of helping someone that everyone else can’t, for the life of them, see?
My Faith in Jesus doesn’t just encourage me to do this. He requires it of those who dare to follow in His footsteps. He expects such KINDness of those who conform their lives to look like His!
People all around us are hurting. Some who seem the most put together are precisely the ones who feel like everything is coming apart.
What if we truly noticed the people we engage in a day? What if we went the extra mile to ensure they feel seen and cherished, too? What if we simply looked them in the eyes and helped them realize they are not alone?
I don’t pretend to compare my actions with that of this bold soldier, but I do believe we ALL can act courageously and compassionately. And, when we do, more can come from it than we dare to imagine in this moment!
So, what are we waiting for? Let’s dare to believe our KINDness can alter the entire trajectory of someone’s life…BECAUSE IT CAN!
For comments or prayer, please contact Dr. Lanier at HopeCommunityChurch.tv.
