Can we do it? You and I? Can we be kind? More importantly, can we be kind at least once a day for a whole month? I didn’t think this idea up, but I wish I had because it’s a great and muchneeded one.
I got it from a daily devotional courtesy of Northside United Methodist Church in Atlanta and Nancy Jeanne Chadwick, the Children’s Ministry Associate. She may work with kids, but she is talking grown-up stuff.
Nancy has issued a challenge for October called “KIND30.” It stands for Kindness Is Needed Daily. Yes, I know that October has 31 days, so I’m not sure why it is called KIND30 instead of KIND31, but that’s not the point. The point is for us to remember to “commit to a small act of kindness each day. Whether it is a simple compliment, sharing a meal, helping a neighbor, or volunteering your time.”
Come on, folks. How hard can that be? I mean, how hard is it to smile at someone or to say thank you? Or pay someone a compliment? Or make a little extra effort to be nice? Small acts can be big deals.
You don’t have to be rich or famous to participate. The challenge is open to males, females, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and all races, creeds, and colors. You can be lefthanded or right-handed. It doesn’t matter. Just be kind.
Chadwick’s challenge comes before the Nov. 5 presidential election and, at this time, it’s hard to locate much kindness in all the yelling and screaming taking place. I suspect most of the noise is coming from loudmouthed, Kool-Aiddrinking wingnuts on both ends of the political spectrum. (Okay, I will admit that was not very kind. I must remember to read what I write.)
My point is that most of us are somewhere in the middle. We are likely liberal on some issues and conservative on others. We will cast our ballot in November because it is our civic duty, although some of us may be holding our noses when we do. (There I go again.) In the meantime, you and I can focus on KIND30, remembering that kindness is needed daily.
I have been on the receiving end of acts of kindness. As many of you know, I had a recent battle with sepsis. I was overwhelmed and still am at how kind people were. Phone calls, cards, meals, people I don’t know all that well telling me they had me in their prayers. It must have worked because I am still around to share the experience with you. Now, it is my turn to pass it on.
The Beloved Woman Who Shared My Name was one of the kindest and most thoughtful people ever to walk this Earth.
She made it a point to look at a clerk’s nametag and to call them by name when she had a question.
You could see the person’s face light up when she did and, of course, they went out of their way to assist her. She would come up with unique gifts at Christmas for the service station attendant, the bank teller at the drive-through window, clerks, our mail carrier, and repair people.
She loved doing it and they loved her for it.
At her going-home service, it was noted she treated everyone the same whether it was Sen. Johnny Isakson, who loved her almost as much as I did, or the person bagging her groceries in the checkout line. She was the personification of KIND30.
So, here is what I intend to do: I am going to keep a log and record at least one act of kindness each day, starting today. At the end of the month, I will look over the list and likely find it was not all that hard to do and just keep on going.
Why don’t you join me?
I have often quoted my late boss and mentor, Jasper Dorsey, who said we all have an obligation to leave this a better world than we found it. Remembering that kindness is needed daily would be a good place to start.
You can reach Dick Yarbrough at dick@dickyarbrough. com or at P.O.
Box 725373, Atlanta, Ga.
31139.
