Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 
-Colossians 3:12-14

It’s Cardigan Day!

That’s not a fashion statement, though I can see why it might seem that way. Actually, it’s an homage to Rev. Fred Rogers, better known as simply “Mr. Rogers” of children’s television fame. You see, November 13 has been designated as World Kindness Day since 1998, and in 2019, when fans of Mr. Rogers and his work realized there’s no better role model for kindness, the day was dubbed “Cardigan Day” in memory of his iconic sweaters.

Mr. Rogers began each of his shows with a change of shoes and zipping on a cardigan. He even did it while singing the theme song, making it seem so very effortless. It would be nice if kindness could be put on as easily as a cardigan. Imagine waking up and looking through your closet, picking out a dress or shirt. Some are just for special occasions, others familiar in their everyday function. Some clothes are comfortable, some flattering, some simply your favorite. Whatever you’re going to wear, you have to pick it out and put it on.

The Apostle Paul also used the image of getting dressed as a way to think about kindness. In the world of the Roman Empire, clothing was much more limited than in our world today. Many people had only one extra change of clothes, if any. Also, there were much firmer expectations about dressing according to social station, limiting certain colors or styles of clothing. Paul knew this, and so did his readers. 

He wrote to the Christian community at Colossae, saying, you’re God’s own, loved and holy: so dress like it! Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love are not just accessories or once-in-a-while outfits. If you only have one thing to wear, let it be kindness. If you only have one change of clothes, let it be compassion. If your place in the world is to be marked by your style, let it be patience. And if you can only have one overcoat, one piece of clothing that brings it all together, let it be love that goes on over everything else.

Now, it’s been five years since the first Cardigan Day, and the need for kindness has by no means diminished since then or indeed since Paul wrote his letter. There is bullying. There is judgment. There is ignorance. There is deliberate cruelty. It happens in schools, in workplaces, in homes, in churches, in government, in social media, in grocery stores– in short, everywhere there are people. It might be enough to make you want to throw up your arms in despair, put on your fuzzy slippers, and never leave the house again.

Please don’t. The world needs kindness. Put on your cardigans, roll up your sleeves, and let’s get to work to put a little more love into the world, on this World Kindness Day and every day.