Always Be Kind

Last night I shared some of my experiences of being shown kindness and tonight I'll try to share a few more. Along with that, I'd like to share some ways that I've tried to spread kindness. 

• When I got into my first car accident, the lady who witnessed it called 911 and came to see if myself and the other driver were okay. She realized the man was angry and came to be and stayed by my side until the police arrived. She even let me use her phone to call my mom when my phone was almost dead.
• I was shown so much kindness when I was hospitalized with pregnancy complications when I was pregnant with James. My nurses were all incredible. I had one who talked me through everything when she knew I was nervous. I had one who was gracious when I spilled my ENTIRE tray of food on the floor. I felt awful and kept apologizing. I wanted to help, but I wasn't allowed. Ha! She never seemed put off, and if she was she didn't show it. Instead she chatted with me and got everything taken care of.
• When God called me to go to Ukraine on a mission trip, I wasn't sure how I'd raise enough financially. Through the kindness of my church family and friends, I raised the funds I needed. One couple wrote me a $500 check. It blew my mind, and I am still forever grateful to them and to the others who helped me go.
• At my last job in Iowa, I had a wonderful boss. I had so much respect for her. Her office was right next to the baby room, and she would come help during the crazy times. She could sense when someone needed help. She always knew the days I was struggling. One time she went on break and came back with ice cream sundaes for us. Another day after hours of crying babies, she came in and told me, "I know you don't have another break today, but take 15 minutes and just go enjoy some quiet." That's all I needed to clear my mind and regroup.

I'm trying to teach the boys to be kind, and so sometimes we do small acts of kindness for others. Other times I've just felt lead to do something on a whim. This isn't to brag, but to show others the little things that you do in life can make a big difference to someone's day or even life.

Things that we've done:

• baked and delivered treats to neighbors
• paid for the car behind me at McDonalds
• sending someone a box of "sunshine" (Fun yellow items: ie: yellow candle, lemon drops, peanut M&Ms. etc)
• sending notes and colored pictures to someone. You never know how a handwritten note of sincerity can lift someone's spirit. 
• helping someone without being asked.
• donated food to the local food bank.
• leave notes of encouragement in random places---Okay this one makes me smile. I posted one on the bathroom mirror at church once and it stayed there for weeks. Hope it really brightened people's days.

There are so many more, but even something as simple as a smile and a wave is an act of kindness. I try to live in the mindset of , "Do unto others and you would have others do unto you." Show kindness. Receive kindness. 

I can already see the kindness my boys can show others. The time that stands out the most to me, was just this summer. We went to the splash pad in Iowa and he made friends with a little girl. She fell down, and he ran right over to her to help her back up and see if she was okay. That melted my heart. 

That showed me more than anything that our kids learn kindness by watching us put it into action.