A KINDNESS LIST

A few days ago was National Acts of Random Kindness Day which occurs every year on February 17th in the United States. It is also celebrated in New Zealand. You don’t need a special day to do an act of kindness. You can just do it any of the 365 days of the year 24/7 to any of the millions of US citizens who need an act of kindness.

I remember after my father died in 1982 when I took care of my beloved ailing mother round the clock all alone 24/7. Oh, how I could have used a kindly soul to step forward and help me out but no one stepped forwards because they didn’t think I needed help. Let me tell you I did! I never left the house for four months except to go to the grocery stone once a week for an hour! In seven years not one person offered to help out even 5 minutes!

There are many different ways to do kind deeds for people who are caring for loved ones, for example. One way is to make a list of the names of people who are caring for relatives. Then call them on the phone and enquire if there is something you can do to help them. It can be on a weekly schedule or a one time good deed such as sitting with the patient while his or her caregiver does errands. Or perhaps bringing a home cooked meal every so often or help take the patient to a doctor’s appointment. The list of opportunities is endless.

Doing good deeds can be the result of careful planning but look like spontaneous acts done spur of the moment! A quick note remembering a kind deed someone did to you can bring a smile of pleasure to a benefactor’s face or a quick call of appreciation can brighten the day for someone. Many times we think of lovely things to do for someone and don’t do them because we don’t have “the time.” What better way to use “our time” than thank someone else with it. For months I have planned on thanking my former pastor for suggesting that I use my extra time for intercessory prayer now that I can’t lead a more active lifestyle. I do the praying but I still haven’t called my pastor. Even something as simple as an on the spot compliment or a warm and friendly smile can brighten someone’s day.

Whatever you do, do it with a desire to make someone’s day brighter.

That’s all for now. Oh, I better go call my former pastor and thank him for his good advice! That’s something else. Do a kind deed for your pastor. He is always doing for others. He needs someone to do a kind deed for him also!

See you later and remember I love you! Hope