Saturday, October 5, 2024

Kindness Matters. Always.

 

The Cooma North Public School rugby league boys played Goulburn North Public School in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia.  They won the game 8-6.  As the boys were walking back to the bus, they noticed an 81-year-old man in the process of moving the woodpile in front of his house to the backyard.  The boys and dads immediately offered their help and in record time, the wood was moved to the desired location.

Shannon McCarthy-Bibb was having a somewhat rough morning.  The kids were at school and she had already taken her husband to work early that morning.  Instead of going back home, she decided to stop for a frappe.  As she pulled up to the first window to pay, the lady told her it’s free.  Surprised she pulled up to the second window and the lady handed her the drink.  She told Shannon, “I don’t know if you remember me, but you handed me a yellow rose at the gas station.  I was having a horrible day that day and you made it so much better.  Drinks on me.”  Shannon and her kids hand out roses, at times, to make the day brighter for people, to see them smile, and to remind them that they matter.  Never did she expect for the favor to be returned.  Shannon commented, “Today she did more than give me a free drink… She reminded me that there is no act too small to make someone’s day better!!  Kindness matters.  Always.”

 

Rose and Frank Tripp were on their way home from an appointment at the Fresno VA.  Suddenly, Frank made a U-turn and pulled off to the side of the road.  A man was having trouble with his wheel chair and nobody was stopping to give him assistance.  Frank was able to put the drive motor back on so the man could use his chair again.

 

The skate park in Cambridge, Ontario, opened this summer.  Jeanean Thomas’ 6-year-old daughter, Peyton, enjoyed watching the skaters, but thought it was a boy sport.  Being a skateboarder in her youth, Jeanean assured her that girls could skateboard, too.  They went to the basement, found her skateboard, and cleaned it up.  She also purchased a pink helmet for Peyton.  When arriving at the park, Peyton was hesitant to skate because only boys were there.  Timidly, she began to ride.  Jeanean had already prepared her speech to tell the boys that her daughter had a right to skate at the park, too.  Surprisingly, within five minutes, Ryan Carney, an avid skateboarder, came over to offer advice to Peyton.  He showed her how to balance, position her feet on the board, and to steer.  He held her hand and helped her get up when she fell and encouraged her to stay away from the rails so she wouldn’t get hurt.  After an hour of instruction, Peyton was skateboarding with pride and confidence.  When commended, Ryan said, “I didn’t really think that much of it. I went up there simply to be nice.  If I didn’t know what I was doing, and I was in a place that could be intimidating at that age, I’d want someone to help me.”

 

May offering kindness be a priority.  Always.

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2:3-4

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