Beech Tree News Network

Many times I fail to notice or I take for granted things in my environment. But, lately a couple of things have caught my attention.

Recently, our community showed support for the Ron Ingram family in various ways, including a benefit. Much effort went into the benefit, and it was a great success, raising needed money for this family. Our community’s willingness to help out when someone is in need caught my attention.

With prior approval, Modern Woodmen will match the amount raised for a cause that a chapter member wants to support, up to $2,500 (http://www.modern-woodmen.org/MemberBenefits/MemberActivities/VolunteerA...). Janet Hill, our Modern Woodmen representative, was contacted before the Ron Ingram benefit about the possibility of matching funds. She didn’t have money left for matching funds, but she worked with others in her organization to obtain funding. Because of Janet Hill’s efforts, Modern Woodmen gave the Ingram family $2,500. Janet could truthfully have said she had no matching funds available and been done; that would have been the easy road. Modern Woodmen’s matching program and Mrs. Hill’s kindness toward a family she didn’t know caught my attention.

    Oprah Winfrey is widely known for encouraging random acts of kindness. The Oprah.com website includes a list of “35 Little Acts of Kindness” (http://www.oprah.com/spirit/35-Little-Acts-of-Kindness), including the following:
•    Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbor, especially in extreme weather.
•    Let a fellow driver merge into your lane.
•    Put your shopping cart back in its place.
•    Forgive someone a debt–and never bring it up again.
•    Offer change when the person in front of you at the register comes up short.

Many also have opinions about kindness. A few are listed below:
•    What this world needs is a new kind of army - the army of the kind. –Cleveland Amory
•    Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not. –Samuel Johnson
•    One can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind. –Malayan Proverb

Glen Duncan said: “When you're a kid, it's people's cruelty that makes you cry; then when you're an adult, it's their kindness.” When people help me or show me kindness, their actions color my opinion of them in a positive way. Kindness catches our attention.