The Kindness of Home Inspiration

"The things that we love tell us what we are."

~ Thomas Aquinas

During my recent stay at my friend's house overseas, I was struck by how she had managed to create a home in a new country.  Her new house has the same feel as her old house -- and it has little to do with the furnishings.  It is more the welcoming and homey feel it has.  I shared that sense with my friend and she said that her sister had made a similar comment.  After spending time at my friend's wonderful home, I returned to mine, newly inspired and with a desire to have my home feel more like the place I would like it to be.

The Kindness of Directions

"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind.  But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions."

~ Chanakya

On a recent Sunday, we went for brunch at a fairly new restaurant in our city's downtown.  My mother directed us to a parking garage across from the restaurant that we entered from another street.  Once parked, we went to exit on the street facing the restaurant, but the gate leading to the street was locked.  We walked in the opposite direction and tried to figure out the best way to get to the restaurant.  The parking attendant came out of the ticket booth and asked us if we were going to the restaurant.  She then directed us to a short cut, which we especially appreciated as it was a hot summer day. 

Kindness (and Example) while Uniform Shopping

"Example is leadership."

~ Albert Schweitzer

Ah, uniform shopping for school -- one of the last signs that summer is coming to an end.  We recently went uniform shopping and ran into the teenage daughter of a friend who is working at the store for the summer.  Even though someone else was already helping us, this young woman asked if we needed anything and got additional sizes for my children to try on.  She also chatted with us about school and about how much she enjoyed her summer job.  It was a good example all the way around.

The Kindness of the Most Gracious Hosts

"What is there more kindly than the feeling between host and guest?"

~ Aeschylus

I recently wrote about the warm welcome that we received from our friends whom we visited overseas.  We were so touched by their continual kindness, which ranged from gracious touches that made us feel right at home to showing us the beautiful city in which they are now living.  Our friends cooked delicious meals for us (even adapted for the vegetarian in my family), led us on wonderful walks, drove us around, did our laundry and even gave us down time.  It was a very special trip and we will never forget their very generous hospitality.

The Kindness of Airline Staff

"What do we live for if not to make life less difficult for each other?"

~ George Eliot

On our recent trip overseas, we initially had very bad seat assignments -- as in middle seats.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much the airlines staff accommodated our family; in every instance, they gave us better seats.  On our longest flight, the woman at the check-in desk even made sure that we had empty seats between us, so that we could stretch out.  Priceless.

The Kindness of My Home Team

"It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help."

~ Epicurus

Being on holiday is great -- for many reasons.  On this last trip, being away helped me to appreciate my "home team."  They are the friends who keep up with what is happening with me and my family -- regardless of where we are.  (Thank you, Internet!)  Members of my home team text to see how our trip is going, to find out when will we be flying... they send prayers to soothe nervous flyers and send messages of "yay" when I share that we have landed.  Through cyberspace, they send love wherever we are.  I feel it and appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.

Kindness To Go

"That best portion of a man's life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love."

~ William Wordsworth

On the last day of our trip overseas, the husband of the family with whom we stayed was going to drive part of our family to the airport.  (We did not fit in one car.)  Given that it was a work day for him, I initially had not accepted his generous offer.  But he insisted.  In addition to the ride, he did an incredibly sweet and thoughtful thing:  He made coffee for my husband and put it in a to-go cup, so that my husband could enjoy it on the drive to the airport.