Be Kind, Rewind

Monday, April 28

Be Kind, Rewind

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Blockbuster is a giant video store chain where you could rent movies on VHS tapes. During its tenure there was a time when the phrase “Be Kind, Rewind” was plastered on every VHS tape case at Blockbuster. It was a simple request: before you return the movie, rewind it for the next person. It didn’t take much effort, but it made a big difference. It was a small act of courtesy that helped someone else start fresh—right from the beginning.

In a way, that old slogan holds a timeless spiritual truth. Every day, we encounter people who are mid-story, mid-struggle, or mid-heartbreak. We don’t always get to see what’s playing behind the scenes of their lives. But kindness? It can be the rewind button—giving someone the grace, encouragement, or patience they need to keep going.

Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” It’s a simple command, but it’s often the small, quiet acts of love that have the greatest impact. A smile. A listening ear. Holding back a harsh word. Paying for someone’s coffee. Letting someone go ahead of you in line. These moments might seem minor to us, but they might mean everything to someone else.

So today, let’s take a page from that old VHS cover. Let’s rewind our reactions, our judgments, our need to always be right—and replace them with kindness. You just never know what burdens someone is carrying, and your small act of compassion might just be what rewinds their day back to hope.

Prayer for today: God of Love, thank you for coming to me to show me Your love. Help me now to show this same love to others as I represent you. Amen