The Gift of Kindness

One summer when I was seven years old, my family traveled several states away to visit my cousins, who lived in the town where my dad grew up. During such visits, an aunt and uncle from a nearby area would invite me to stay with them overnight. I loved visiting their farm, and I can still smell the piney woods, and the sweet fragrance of their huge magnolia tree out front.

At the time, I would describe them as "nice," but I now recognize that they each had a sweet, gentle spirit. They were kind people. Loving and sincere. Simple and straightforward. They lived out their faith in a way that made a difference. I'll always remember the day my uncle noticed a woman sitting on a bench in front of a little country store. Her hands covered her face and she was weeping.

He was so concerned, he asked the store clerk what was wrong. Her answer brought tears to his eyes.

"Her boy was killed last night. Terrible car wreck on that curvy road down by the river."

We exited the store, and my uncle went over to the lady, sat next to her and took her hand. He whispered words I couldn't hear, then patted her shoulder like a loving dad would do. She nodded.

That's all he did, but it was enough to instill a definition of "kindness" that has followed me all my life.

Kindness is balm for a grieving heart.

It was graduation night. Students lined up row by row to receive their diplomas, as proud parents captured pictures of the big event. One picture was not recorded, though.

One of the graduates was a grinning, developmentally challenged student who had worked hard in the special needs class at school. He received his diploma and a hearty handshake, then threw his arms around the principal and gave him a bear hug. On his way down from the podium, though, his expression changed.

A sea of graduates stretched before him. Every row appeared the same, and he obviously was lost. One young man stood and made his way past a row of students waiting for their diplomas. He guided his classmate back to his seat, then returned to his.

It was one of those moments when the world stands still for a few seconds.

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1. Unconditional love.
2. Forgiveness - he is a God of second chances (and third, fourth, fifth...)
3. Grace - undeserved favor, a free gift that outshines anything money can buy.
4. Peace - even in the face of difficulty, true peace remains.
5. Joy!
6. Jesus - the best gift of all. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the birth of Christ. Easter wouldn't be Easter without the Resurrection.
7. Hope for a bright tomorrow.
8. Sunshine - I've never lived a single day when the sun didn't rise and set.
9. Rain - Remember "To everything there is a season"? Our seasons change year after year, too, right on time, since Creation.

After my mom passed away suddenly in 2004, I stayed with my dad to help him through the first two weeks of grief. They'd been married 58 years. Suddenly he was alone.

While I was away, my daughter and son-in-law took it upon themselves to tackle a big project: the makeover of my home office. It was where I did all my writing, edited my nature photography, and relaxed with a good book. I loved that little room, but it in need of fresh paint and new organization.

I'd bought the paint, a deep shade of cranberry, and had purchased new office furniture in the days before my mother died. But life was interrupted and all that didn't seem important anymore.

For three days, they worked to surprise me, and when I returned home, it was the most welcome sight! I could not believe my eyes.

That was a beautiful act of kindness at a low point in my life. At that time, they had two young children and led busy lives of their own, too. I knew they had sacrificed to surprise me, and I'll never forget their loving act of kindness.

Kindness finds practical ways to help.

A young woman cashed her paycheck, and slid the cash into her wallet. She planned to pay her bills in person, to save the cost of mailing them. Every shortcut helped, as she ran her home on a tight budget.

Her baby daughter was fussy, so she set her wallet momentarily on top of the car while she buckled her in her carseat. It was a chilly morning and rain was pummeling her. Grabbing her purse, she circled quickly around to the driver's side, hopped in, and drove home.

A few minutes after arriving home, she made a terrible discovery. Her wallet was missing.

Quickly she loaded her daughter back into the car and returned to the bank parking lot. No sign of her wallet anywhere. She checked inside with one of the employees, in case somebody had found it and turned it in. They hadn't seen a wallet.

What was she going to do? How would she pay her rent and utilities? Life as a single mom was tough enough; now she was faced with a major financial crisis. God, you know I can't handle this. Please help me, she prayed.

All she could do was return home.

The phone was ringing when she stepped back inside. The caller identified himself as a city police officer. Someone had noticed something tumble off the top of her car when she drove away from the parking lot. Rather than locating her house from the information on her driver's license, he decided to turn it the wallet in to the police and let them handle it.

None of the money was missing. Inside the envelope, though, was a scrap of paper that read, simply, "God bless you."

Certain acts of kindness may be the answer to a heartfelt prayer.

We arrived at our new address after a drive of several hundred miles. Our kids were both preschoolers, hungry and tired. I kept them busy while movers unloaded box after box, stacking them as neatly as possible throughout the house. I found an empty corner and spread a blanket so my kids could eat a peanut butter sandwich. They thought they were picnicking.

After the movers left, I felt a mixture of relief and dread. It was good to be home, but it would take days to put everything in its place. How would I ever finish before Christmas?

A knock on my kitchen door interrupted my thoughts. "Hi, I'm Anita. I live nextdoor. Just thought you'd like a snack before the work begins." She offered a handshake and a smile, a plate of warm cinnamon rolls and a carafe of hot coffee.

We became good friends, and discovered a lot in common. But the thing that sealed our friendship was that first thoughtful act. Anita knew the value of kindness.

Kindess unites strangers and forges friendship.

Thanks to Christian Clipart for the "helping hand" clipart!

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