By Von C. Howard
At 46, I see life differently than I did at 26, or even 36. The older I get, the more I realize that the real measure of a man isn’t in what he earns, drives, or wears, but in how he treats people when there’s nothing to gain. In a world that often rewards the loudest, flashiest, and most self-promoting voices, I’ve come to understand that the quiet act of kindness is still the greatest currency we can carry.
We’re living in an age of digital applause, where people record themselves feeding the homeless or broadcast every volunteer effort. There’s nothing wrong with sharing positivity, but when doing good becomes a performance instead of a principle, something sacred gets lost. Service, at its highest level, is not about being seen, it’s about seeing others.
As a Black man in 2025, I carry a deep awareness of how kindness and service shaped my own journey. I think about the village that poured into me, teachers who saw potential beyond my mistakes, a church family that prayed for me through my foolish years, and brothers who challenged me to be better. Their kindness wasn’t posted; it was practiced. They didn’t serve to be noticed; they served because they cared. And that, right there, is legacy work.
The act of kindness is the passport of life because it grants us access to the hearts and souls of others. It allows us to cross boundaries that money, titles, or education can’t buy passage through. Each act of compassion, each moment of grace, is another stamp proving we’ve lived not just long, but well.
When we serve for show, the applause eventually fades. But when we serve from the heart, the impact echoes for generations. Some of the most influential men I know don’t have platforms; they have presence. They mentor quietly, give consistently, and love deeply. They understand that the greatest rewards in life come when you stop trying to be seen and start trying to make others feel seen.
Scripture reminds us in Matthew 6:1, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Real service doesn’t seek an audience; it seeks alignment with God’s purpose.
In this season of life, I’m choosing to lead with kindness, not ego. To give without expecting credit. To love without needing an audience. Because at the end of the day, our legacies won’t be measured by titles or trophies; it’ll be measured by the lives we’ve touched and the hearts we’ve lifted.
Reflection:
Kindness may not trend, but it transcends. In a world obsessed with visibility, choose to be the one who serves with vision.