"Small" acts of kindness...

Danny and I had a great time in Utah last week visiting with Michael and Corey and with other dear family and friends. Hopefully I'll write more about that soon (I wrote already, but our internet connection is often very iffy here at my parents' home, and I lost that post...frustrating!!!). 

On the final day of our visit, Danny received the sad news that he

wasn't selected for a job in Colorado Springs, one that we were SURE he'd get, and the next day he learned that none of the Denver applicants (him included) were selected for further interviews with the FBI. So it's been a rough week. And my poor parents are stuck with us for yet another week... or another month... We are so thankful for them!

We got home Thursday. I didn't feel like going to the gym and working out Friday morning since my heart was quite heavy, but I knew it would be good for me to get some exercise and I have come to enjoy the group classes offered at our local gym, so I went. Even though I was sorely tempted to just stay in bed.

I was one of the last people to show up for class, and the room was already crowded with motivated exercisers and their equipment. I almost turned around to leave, but two women smiled at me and one immediately started grabbing weights for me and the other brought me a mat.  Wow. Such simple acts of kindness... had such a profound effect on me in a time of need. Although I had seen both women in classes prior to this morning, I didn't know their names, and I've never done anything more to them than smile and say hello.  So they had no obligation or reason to show me any kindness on this difficult morning, and they had no idea how deeply their kind acts helped to lighten my load.  They still don't know, even though I did thank them both for their help.  Three days later I am still feeling indebted to them for exemplifying what it means to be Christlike.

Call it coincidental, but when we arrived back at my folks' house Thursday, my mom handed me a small package that had arrived while we were gone. It was from my beautiful niece Jamee, and it contained a touching letter of appreciation along with CHOCOLATES!  She couldn't have known that the timing of her kind gesture was perfect.  She lifted our spirits on that difficult day (and did I mention there were CHOCOLATES too?!!). I have no doubt that she felt prompted to write and send CHOCOLATE right then.  God helps us out through the kindness of others who show they care.  And I am certain that He invented CHOCOLATE to help. :-)  Thank you, Jamee. Thank you!


I could never begin to count the times I've been blessed by the small acts of kindness shown to me by others, be they family members, friends or strangers, but I hope to pay closer attention so I will be more aware of the countless reasons why my cup runneth over.

And I hope to make a more concerted effort each day to live as my Savior would have me live. To look into the eyes of those around me and smile. To lend a hand. To send a card or drop off cookies "just because". To remember birthdays. To give my time and energy to someone who needs a listening ear or a kind touch.  Yes, even to let a car into MY lane in front of me in heavy traffic!

Because we are all connected.  Because we are all family.  Because we ALL need each other, and we're here on earth to smile and reach out to one another. There are no strangers in our lives... just friends and family we haven't yet met.  So let's meet...