"Acts of kindness" can also be described as "being a refreshment to other people." When you volunteer, donate money, help somebody in need, or simply give words of encouragement to a neighbor you are refreshing them.

Witnessing acts of kindness produces oxytocin, occasionally referred to as the "love hormone" which aids in lowering blood pressure and improving our overall heart-health. It also increases our self-esteem and optimism.

Like most medical antidepressants, kindness stimulates the production of serotonin. This feel-good chemical heals your wounds, calms you down, and makes you happy!

According to Emory University, when you are kind to another person, your brain's pleasure and reward centers light up, as if you were the recipient of the good deed (not the giver).

Additionally, the positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to "pay it forward", thus giving themselves happiness boosts as well as those receiving it.

Make it your mission this week to be a refreshment to at least one person. Tomorrow, we will look at an example of the importance of refreshment in the New Testament.