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Patty Craig: A Slice of Time

February, the month we associate with love, is coming to a close. During February – usually near Valentine’s Day, people express their love for others. Also, February 17 was Random Act of Kindness Day – a day to show small kindnesses to others. Acts of kindness often affect us in very positive ways.

An Internet site about kindness reported the following information and listed sources (https://sites.google.com/site/hhspayitforward/kindness-facts-and-statistics):

•Based on a study found in the Journal of Social Psychology, people who performed a single kind act a day for ten days experienced a significant increase in overall happiness than those who didn’t.

•Allan Luks and Peggy Payne have identified some of the physical effects of kindness.  They have noted that viewing, receiving, and performing kind acts can lead to calmness, relaxation, less headaches, eased pain, lower blood pressure and increased energy levels.

•Kindness has also shown to cause decreased levels of loneliness and helplessness, as well as an increased sense of euphoria, exhilaration, satisfaction, and wellbeing.

Thus, actions of kindness provide positive benefits to those who perform the acts.

Wondering what actions of kindness by which others have been impressed, I asked friends and family: “What act of kindness or love have you witnessed or experienced that stands out in your memory?” Their responses were:

•A nurse’s boss developed cystic kidney disease, and the nurse decided to be tested to see if she could be a donor. She was a perfect match, but the boss didn’t want the nurse to be short a kidney. The boss was hoping for an end-of-life transplant. However, the nurse followed through and ultimately became her donor. A story of love, kindness and respect.

•Family friends showed great kindness and love when they honored my dad’s request to be taken to his grave by a team of mules. It was a cold January day that they drove their team through town, sitting up on an unsheltered wagon bench, yet they never muttered one complaint. There were also several people who stood outside businesses in the cold to show respect as we passed by. These acts of kindness, among others that day, are memorable to me.

•I have been shown more acts of kindness and love than I could ever deserve. There are too many to count, especially in the days following the death of my daughter. For me, sometimes the greatest act of kindness is the simplest to perform. A smile, a hug, a word of encouragement.

•I have witnessed my grandmother always welcoming and loving people that her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren love or associate with.

•My grandmother’s sister was diagnosed with MS in her 20s. She lived for 20+ years with this disease that eventually left her bedfast and totally dependent on others. Her husband worked a job and still took care of her like a princess. He showed her such care and patience, and when the MS finally took her life, he was heartbroken. He always had a smile for her and a kiss. I was still a teenager when she passed, but his love for her left an impression on me forever.

•The most recent benefit in our community that raised almost $30,000 was the perfect example of love.

•An older lady at Walmart helped me find all my items in record time for a scavenger hunt. She was in the middle of stacking products on shelves and when I asked her for help, she didn’t hesitate to drop what she was doing to help me. We finished that scavenger hunt together!

•People in the church and community banding together to help people in need.

•I see my sister order my Mom’s groceries online and then go get them and take them to her house. I also see her take my Mom to her doctor appointments. Those are acts of kindness done out of love. I thank her for those acts of kindness, helping out my Mom.

•The greatest act of love that stays with me still happened thirty-plus years ago. Your brother loved me and my children so much that he started taking sign class shortly after we got together. He has been a blessing to me and the children – always.

•The people in front of us bought our food at McDonald’s, so we bought the food for the car behind us. 

•A mom on our ball team took all of the girls’ uniforms and washed them, just to be helpful. 

•Our staff is always showing acts of kindness to students and to each other, little things that no one knows about but that usually makes a huge difference in a kid’s day. 

Acts of kindness benefit those who are involved and those who witness the kindness. I saw a poster that said, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” Colossians 3:12 (NIV) encourages us, saying: “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” I want to do a better job of showing kindness. And even though the Random Act of Kindness Day has passed, it’s not too late.

 
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