mar's Desk

marcoujor: Ponderings on Kindness

8/30/2016

Kindness Does Not Discriminate

Kindness is a word I hold near and dear...we all thrive and blossom with the slightest words, gestures of kindness from others.

From a smile to a show of concern, kindness does not have to cost a thing.
Each day is a new opportunity for us to impact someone else's life.

We have the power to smile, to listen and to support those who are hurting in a variety of ways.
We have the ability at any time to choose kindness

Kindness is From the Heart

Years ago Mom shared this impactful story with me...

The Wise Woman's Stone, author unknown

"A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."

“People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway...The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway.” Mother Teresa

Try kindness

We all have the capability of teaching, sharing or supporting someone in need. It's up to us to decide where we want to make a difference.

This recent email from a dear friend brought tears to my eyes and is a perfect example of pure and unadulterated kindness.

Maria,

I rescued a tiny, baby kitten from the middle of the road on a country drive. I found a vet, took him in and he weighed only 0.6 pounds, full of fleas, ear mites, worms and eyes crusted shut with pus. $151 later I had bought all the medication for him, eye drops, eye ointment, ear mite medication, worming medication and he is all black. He slept on my shoulder as the sun was coming in the window. On the way home he slept on my pocketbook, in the sun, on the passenger's seat.

I called my friend with whom I work. She also works for an animal rescue group. She said to bring him to her with all of his medication. She worked with him, gave him a bath and some flea treatment, cleaned out those tiny ears, got his eyes opened (then saw his beautiful green eyes), and gave him Sub Q fluids.

She would bring him into work and I would do the fluids and feeding every two hours with a syringe. I received a call tonight at work, as my friend is off. She said he died in her arms at 2330 Sunday night.

We both cried. He tried so hard to live. I am consoled somewhat by the fact that he had known love for his last week, but it still hurts.

There is no magic involved. Do something that is meaningful, as often as you possibly can, just like my friend's beautiful example... And yes, sometimes it hurts. It's no surprise my friend is a nurse and an ongoing inspiration to me.

Kindness: the very least we can do and quite infectious, in the best of ways!

Please share some examples of kindness in the comment section or by email.

Speaking of Kindness...

Mom loved this song by Glen Campbell and it surely fits today's subject, Try A Little Kindness.