Beech Tree News Network

Some of my friends are making a conscious effort to be more helpful to those who have encountered hard times. Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give" (http://www.wisestuffs.com/best-and-famous-quotes-of-winston-churchill/). Giving involves personal sacrifice, but the giver and the recipient both benefit. So, what are some examples of acts of kindness?

Katy McColl (http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/advice/a19031/acts-of-ki...) created a list of 50 acts of kindness. Some of those included the following:
•    Leave a bouquet at the hospital — the nurses will know who needs it the most.
•    Tell your neighbors how much joy you find in admiring their garden.
•    Check "yes" when asked if you wish to become an organ donor, and tell your family.
•    Put extra change into the vending machine to help the next person.
•    Relay an overheard compliment.

I asked friends and family to share one act of kindness that they have thought of doing or have done. Their responses are below:
•    Holding the door for others to enter.
•    I want to get the teacher who mentored me this semester a summer gift basket. I plan to put a beach towel, some summer reading books, and a watermelon candle in the basket. Summer stuff!
•    Cleaning a friend’s house while she was gone out of town. Taking food and other household items to a friend who was having a rough time.
•    When the preacher’s wife had her last baby, I made homemade vegetable beef soup and cornbread and took it to their house one morning before work. My acts of kindness are usually cooking something and taking it to someone.
•    When someone is having difficult times – sickness or whatever, I try to truly listen and give them my full attention. It costs nothing, but I hope it helps in some way.
•    I helped my neighbor call tech support and get her phone repaired. She’s older and sometimes has difficulty communicating about technical issues.
•    Pay for the food of the next person in line.
•    My husband is often kind to our renters. He might allow someone an extra month to pay rent or give someone a free month when there has been a death or tragedy. He also buys kids’ Christmas gifts through the angel tree.
•     I have bought students’ school supplies, clothes and shoes, and provided a family with Christmas gifts for their children. I also try to send cards just to remind people who are sick or mourning that other people do care and are praying for them.
•    I always let people walk under my umbrella when we are going in the same direction.
•    I took groceries out to an elderly person’s car.
•    I used to like paying toll for those behind me.

The above lists are examples of kindness. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” My sister-in-law made a good point, saying, “I feel that acts of kindness become somewhat diminished if the person who has done them makes them public.” But, each of us can help others in some way, and as Churchill indicated, those acts of kindness will improve our lives.