Try a Little Kindness.
I was having a bit of “writer’s block” yesterday as I was looking for a word or thought to inspire me for this day’s blog. I walked out onto my screened in patio and saw the wall hanging that the previous owners left behind. “Think deeply. Speak gently. Love much. Laugh a lot. Work hard. Give freely and BE KIND.” I thought, “That’s a great mission statement for anyone!”
I really do endeavor to live those words daily – some days I’m right on – and not so much on other days. Each one of those phrases is a sermon in themselves, but the one that stood out on this day was BE KIND. Kindness is a word that should be proclaimed in neon lights. It’s a word we could sure use a lot more of these days.
On Monday, a precious 94-year young friend in Tulsa, Thelma Moore, received her promotion to heaven. This gracious and KIND woman was a mentor and role model in faith and class to me. I saw her last at her long-care facility in April. She didn’t remember too much about our time together because of memory loss, but it didn’t matter. I remembered. I remember her always complimenting and encouraging me when I was the president of our women’s ministries. I smiled when nurses or aides would come into the room and even then would introduce me as her most beautiful and dearest friend that she grew up with, who lived near each other and went to church together. There were some gaps in those memories, but no worries……I remembered this KIND and loving woman. Kindness sticks. It leaves a mark on our lives.
I’ve personally known kindness in action. I’m thinking about the kindness of my children’s friends in Austin who invited me over to their home for dinner and another couple who took me out to dinner when my children were out of town. I’m reminded about my next door neighbors who watch over my property like hawks while I’m out of town and alert me if I’ve left my garage door open AGAIN. I’m thinking about the kindness that my children and grandchildren show me when I show up at their homes. Since my daughter’s family is nearby and I see them so often, it should be no big deal when I come in the front door, but each and every time, I’m treated like royalty walked in. Each one of them gets up from where they are to rush to me and give me hugs like it had been months. I have best friends in Tulsa who have a room available for me to stay with them. On my next trip to Tulsa, I’ll be staying with a friend from the community I lived in – the one that let me stay in her home for over six weeks before my move to Texas. Talk about kindness! Kindness comes in so many different forms.
Kind words and kind actions are like kisses from heaven. I am forever grateful for those who have been kind to me, spoken grace and encouragement into me. My mind is flooded with examples as I am sure you can reflect on encounters from your own life where a kind word ministered more deeply than the speaker could have ever imagined. Those kind words from others have caused me to realize that every day I have the opportunity to let kindness pour out from me. I want to be the person who is sensitive to God’s prompting when He nudges me to be kind and to speak kindness into the life of another.
If you’re reading this post, you are probably one of those kisses from heaven to me, because you embrace me, empower me, motivate me and are SO KIND to me when you “like” or “love” one of my posts, when you take the time to comment brings me so much joy. From the bottom of my heart…..I thank you!
In the words of Glen Campbell’s old song, maybe we should all “Try a Little Kindness”:
You’ve got to try a little kindness, yes, show a little kindness.
Yes, shine your light for everyone to see.
And if you’ll try a little kindness and you’ll overlook the blindness,
Of the narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets.