We have a Christmas tradition at my house—actually, I should say I have a Christmas tradition that my wife graciously puts up with. At some point every Christmas season (it doesn’t have to be on a specific day), I will sit down with my wife, Gabi, and we will watch the live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas, because it is—without question—the best Christmas movie ever made.

If you’ve never seen the movie (spoiler alert), it ends with the Whos gathered together in the Grinch’s cave, sharing a meal. The Grinch himself is leading—carving the “roast beast” and serving others. The question is: how did he go from being hated to being influential?

The answer lies in the words of the great theologian Dr. Seuss:
“His heart grew three sizes that day.”

The point is simple: kindness produces influence.

All of us will lead in some way in the new year. Some of us will lead in our workplace, others in our homes, others in ministry or classrooms. As we wrap up 2025, you may be asking, “What kind of leader do I want to be in 2026?”

No matter what kind of leader you’ve been in the past, let me encourage you today to be someone who leads with kindness.

When we think of kindness, many ideas may come to mind. But when we look at the real Christmas story—not the Grinch—we see God clearly define kindness through the person of Emmanuel.

Kindness Is Inconveniencing Yourself for Others

Luke 2:7 gives us a glimpse of the first Christmas:

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Imagine the King of Kings being born in what would be the equivalent of a barn, with His first crib being a feeding trough. Imagine Creator God not being welcomed as a king. And why did He do this? To rescue mankind from a problem we created ourselves.

When you’re asked to help with something that technically shouldn’t be your responsibility, how do you respond?

• “Why is she asking me to do that? Doesn’t she know I worked all day?”
• “Why can’t he handle this himself?”
• “Do they not realize how busy I am?”

Protecting margin matters, and using time wisely is important—but how often do we refuse to inconvenience ourselves simply because we don’t want to?

When I consider the level of inconvenience Jesus accepted on my behalf, I realize I have no excuse for refusing to inconvenience myself, when possible, for those I lead. Emmanuel teaches us that kindness is choosing inconvenience for the sake of others.

Kindness Is Forgiving Wrongs

At the beginning of the Christmas story, God speaks to Joseph in a dream and tells him what to name the child:

“Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
—Matthew 1:21

What makes this verse so powerful is that every sin He came to save us from was a sin against Him—yet He absorbed the penalty and forgave us anyway. That is true kindness.

If I’m honest, it’s confusing how hesitant my heart can be to forgive, considering how much I’ve been forgiven. We even justify withholding forgiveness. But the truth is sobering: when I refuse to forgive those I lead, the person I hurt most is myself.

To forgive well, we must keep God’s forgiveness of us in clear view. Brant Hansen says it best in Unoffendable:

“We don’t get angry when we’ve just been let off the hook… When you’re living in the reality of the forgiveness you’ve been extended, you just don’t get angry with others easily.”

Emmanuel shows us the depth of God’s forgiveness—and calls us to extend that same forgiveness to those we lead.

Kindness Is Loving When You Are Not Loved

In the Old Testament, God did everything for Israel. He delivered them from slavery, fed them in the wilderness, and gave them a home in the Promised Land. Yet Isaiah describes their response:

“This people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me.”

If we were in God’s place, we might walk away. Instead, God sends Emmanuel. He loved—even when He was not loved.

Biblical love is always accompanied by action. At its core, it is choosing to serve someone in a way that leads to their ultimate good. Another way to say it is this: kindness is serving others when they do not serve you.

There will be moments this year when those you lead don’t respond with appreciation, loyalty, or love. Our instinct may be anger, withdrawal, or silence. But God shows us a better way—love anyway.

Emmanuel shows us kindness by loving when He was not loved.

Conclusion: Choosing Kindness in the New Year

As you prepare to enter a new year, ask yourself:

“How can I lead with kindness this year?”

Whether you are:

• a dad leading your family,
• a manager setting goals for 2026,
• a teacher striving to be more effective, or
• a mom faithfully raising her children,

Let’s make the decision today to lead with kindness in 2026.

Because kindness doesn’t weaken leadership—it strengthens it.
And when we lead like Emmanuel, our influence grows in ways that truly matter.