Something About Nothing

This months Kindness Chronicles post is dedicated to an act of kindness I witnessed performed by my teenage daughter, Em. I drove to the high school to pick her up from volleyball practice and found her sitting out front watching a bunch of her peers.  She had a very serious look on her face.  She was very concerned about something going on and meant business. When I pulled up she walked over to the car, watching these young men and women the entire time.  As we pulled away from the curb she leaned out the window and yelled, "DON'T LISTEN TO THEM!  I THINK YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL!  YOU'RE NOT UGLY!" What? She then proceeded to tell me "the rest of the story." As she was leaving volleyball she ran into a girl in tears. The girl had lost her "baby" (a doll in a baby carrier that the school gives to kids to care for when they take a certain health class).  Em told her she had seen something in the gym and went with her to look for it.  It...

How did it get to be August already?  I missed the beginning of the month and so I am late in posting my Kindness Chronicles. I had the opportunity of traveling to DC with my oldest daughter, mother-in-law and brother-in-law for 5 days to look for an apartment for my daughter whilst bil was in meetings.  It is amazing how many kindnesses you can observe while traveling: There was the TSA officer who was bright and cheery.  Perhaps it was the beginning of her shift but no matter the reason it was a kindness to everyone who had stood in a very long line waiting their turn to arrive to a cheerful face who asked how their day was going. There was the man who was willing to trade seats with my mil so that she did not have to sit by herself. There was the group of wait listed passengers who had been waiting so long they'd become friends and cheered for each other as they were able to get on the flight, some of them into first class! There was the man who noticed th...

While at Costco I was able to witness such a wonderful kindness. A woman set down her keys on a shelf and then forgot them.  Another woman noticed the keys shortly after and left her own shopping behind to track down the owner. The woman who lost her keys was so grateful for this simple act of kindness and expressed how difficult her life would have been without those keys. It never ceases to amaze me how something so simple can make such a big deal in a person's life. Another sweet act of kindness I saw performed was by my 14-year-old daughter. We have had some new neighbors move in who have four adorable children. The other day as my daughter and I were walking home we noticed three of the children out all trying to ride the one scooter they owned.  They weren't fighting over the scooter, they were being very sweet.  One would ride and the other two would run behind.  My daughter noticed and while I was distracted with talking to another neighbor she...

A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money -.John Ruskin A mother at the craft store was feeling flustered at what she called her child's "free spirit" and I reminded her that it is a quality that we greatly admire in adults.  She laughed and said "that's true!"  If nothing else it gave her a chuckle but I hoped it helped her to enjoy her child and think of him and his free spirit in a new way. I love using my talents to help people.  Is it okay to enjoy being kind?  I think it is but sometimes it's best to remember to be kind when you really don't feel like it.  I volunteered to teach 20 young ladies how to make  pillowcases to take to camp.  The pattern is simple but it proved to be difficult for some.  I think the real kindness in this project came when mistakes were made and we all encouraged the young ladies that they did not ruin their pillowcase and that they were doing a great ...

Forgive me for this late post. My oldest daughter graduated from college this weekend and it has been a very busy few weeks.  I should have done something ahead of time but I didn't make the time.  I hope you will forgive me. I wanted to write about all the kindnesses given to me during this busy busy time in our family. My friend offered the use of her beautiful backyard for a graduation party. My son, as well as my sister and her fiancé flew in for the weekend. Another friend loaned me large beverage containers and a warmer. Another friend baked 200 mini cupcakes and 50 chocolate mint brownies because she just wanted to "help out". My husband didn't roll his eyes when I told him I had to borrow my friend's crockpot for the hot dip because her crockpot is prettier than ours. My husband hauled endless chairs and tables from the church house without complaint.  He also made many endless trips from our house to the neighbor's whe...