Bullying is a buzzword in our schools and the cyber-world. Sadly, it’s a buzzword because bullying is a serious problem among kids, teens, and even adults. At my kids’ school, our principal talks to the kids about showing kindness to stop bullying before it starts. The local public school in our area has t-shirts with the hashtag #BeKind on the front. 

I’m thankful there are conversations happening about this topic. But what does God’s Word say about kindness? 

5 Bible Memory Verses for Kids About Kindness

Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

Did you know?! Kindness is originally from the Lord. God draws us to Himself with unfailing kindness. Kindness that never fails no matter how rude, disrespectful, or disobedient we are to Him. Wow!

Family Activity Idea: See how long you can tap a balloon in the air. Can you do it for 5 minutes? 10? 60? Could you do it all day long? Forever and ever? It’s too hard to do without stopping! God’s kindness to us is unfailing, He never stops being kind to us!

Romans 2:4 (NIV)

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Paul writes to the Romans and Ephesians, reminding them to remember God’s kindness to us. God’s kindness goes hand in hand with His desire for us to be reunited with Him through repentance. As we see God’s forgiveness of our own sin, it will make it easier to forgive others and interact with them with thankfulness in our hearts to God!

Family Activity Idea: Write one of the above verses on a large sheet of paper. Let everyone in your family draw a small cartoon of 2 things that always go together (for example: macaroni & cheese, peanut butter & jelly, Mickey & Minnie). Then highlight or decorate the words KINDNESS and REPENTANCE/FORGIVENESS. Talk about how those two actions go together too.

Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Once we recognize God’s kindness to us, Paul suggests we clothe ourselves in it. Just as getting dressed takes time and attention, making sure kindness is at the forefront of our lives and actions takes time and attention too.

Family Activity Idea: Do a clothes relay race. Have your kids race down to a pile of oversized clothes and put them on as quickly as they can. Once they are dressed, immediately take them back off and run back to the beginning, tagging the next player. Continue until everyone has gone. Talk about how getting dressed took time and attention. Explain how dressing in kindness should be done the same way too.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

God gives us His Holy Spirit when we become Christians. Then, the fruit of the Holy Spirit can begin to grow in us. One fruit of the Spirit is kindness. This is a trait that should be cultivated by staying close and listening to the Holy Spirit.

Family Activity Idea: Make a Kindness Kid out of an orange!

Download a printable of these 5 Bible Memory Verses About Kindness.