Kindness

It’s not difficult to show kindness, but it does seem to be lacking these days.

Harsh words are spoken more frequently, and we do, as a people, seem to love gossiping about one another.

What does it cost to be nice? Nothing.

What does a smile cost? Again, nothing.

None of us know what the other is going through. The person next to you might have the best life in the world, but they more than likely don’t.

I’m generally happy with my life. I have fantastic family members, and I have some great friends. I have a decent job, am very proud of my children, I have a nice house and I love my cat. I also have troubles – varying from money to health and back again.

Right now I am struggling with some awful physical problems. Which is not helping my mental health either.

I had to call work to tell them I was unable to go in. I work in a busy kitchen as a baker/pastry chef, so having a torn cartilage in my knee and a sprained lower back muscle is not exactly something I can do my job with.

I was shaking as I was calling one of our team leaders. I feel so guilty about not being able to work, even though I know that it’s not my fault and there’s nothing I can do about it. I cried on the phone to one of my lovely colleagues.

The kindness that I was shown the day before I went off work, by the few people that I spoke to that day, was amazing. One girl in particular said some things to me that had me at a loss for words.

She said to me, ‘M, stop worrying about your work. We will sort it out, we will help you, we will cover you. Dont ever feel like you can’t ask us for help. The help that you have given us all over the years, don’t you think that we will do the same for you?’

This was a bit overwhelming. I’m not great at asking for help from people, you could say I may be a tiny bit on the stubborn side.

I don’t help people to get anything in return. I will always try to help wherever I can. Be it with words, or actions, or just lending an ear, just being there.

It never occurs to me that I can always ask for myself. Not many people know my problems, but those that do, are full of kindness towards me.

But we shouldn’t need to know to be kind. Say ‘hello’ to someone today. Smile at a neighbour. Or even at someone walking past you on the street! They might look at you and think, ‘weirdo’, but it might just make their day.

If a person is grumpy or snappy towards you, don’t take the huff. Ask them is there anything they need, or anything you can do. They might not want your help, and that’s ok, but even if they don’t, they now know that someone is there if they do.

Be kind to one person today. Because you never know when that one person needs it. And one day that person might be you.

Words for today.

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” Luke 6:35

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” Proverbs 12:25