Chrestotes

chrestotes (khray-stot'-ace) gentleness, goodness, kindness
rom chrestos; usefulness, i.e. Morally, excellence (in character or demeanor) -- gentleness, good(-ness), kindness.
In the Bible:
Romans 3 times
2 Corinthians 1 time
Galatians 1 time
Ephesians 1 time
Titus 1 time
Colossians 1 time

I learned this word from my good friend Kelly, who gets much credit to introducing me to this and other ideas and trains of thought. I'm still working on wrapping my meager brain around this, but the concept keeps growing. So below are what others far more learned than I have written. Someday I'll form this into my own words, but for now I feel compelled to share.

'When the kindness of God' - Spurgeon says that “The philanthropy of God” would be a good translation...
Kindness is God's beneficial provision that meets the need of sinful man.

Kindness is not an apathetic response to sin, but a deliberate act to bring the sinner back to God.
Kindness reflects the tender concern of God, providing for helpless, hapless man what he never could have provided for himself. This is the "starting point" for our salvation. Expositors call it God's "pitying kindness that prompts Him to bestow forgiveness and blessings". John MacArthur writes that kindness (chrestotes) "connotes genuine goodness and generosity of heart. Our salvation from sin and lostness and death issued wholly from God’s kindness, His loving, benevolent, and entirely gracious concern to draw us to Himself and redeem us from sin forever."

Kindness reflects benevolence in action, kindliness which disposes one to do good but not a goodness qualitatively but a goodness in action and expressed in deed. Kindness is that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes and which supplies their wants or alleviates their distresses. Kindness is not just a sweet disposition but is a serving trait. (This is my favorite observation.)

From Beth Moore:

"Chrestotes - is the grace which pervades the whole nature, mellowing all which would be harsh and austere. Chrestotes - is a tender heart and nurturing spirit

Hosea 11:3-4
3. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them,
4. I led them with cords of
human kindness
with ties of love;
I lifted the yoke from their
neck
and bent down to feed them.

Beth Moore says, "The cords were kindness-the tenderness of God's heart-and the ties which bound them together were His love. Don't miss an important part of this Scripture: The chrestotes or nurturing of God was their healing, whether or not they recognized it as such!
Reread the end of verse 4. There aren't many things sweeter than watching a Daddy feed his baby. This bonding experience is portrayed so typically as God "bent down to feed" His children. Just picture it! Can you almost see Him opening His mouth as He tries to get the child to open his-just like we do?"

The Tyndale Bible Dictionary summarizes "kindness" as that "state of being that includes the attributes of loving affection, sympathy, friendliness, patience, pleasantness, gentleness, and goodness. Kindness is a quality shown in the way a person speaks and acts. It is more volitional than emotional."

My brother, a very kind man, pointed out that kindness is often misinterpreted as weakness. He is quite right, and so I think that being kind is often a courageous act too.