The Kindness of a Thoughtful Thank You

"My guiding principles in life are to be honest, genuine, thoughtful and caring."
~ Prince William

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me if I knew a good math tutor.  I did and I shared the tutor's contact information with her.  The other day, I received a very thoughtful thank you text from my friend.  She shared that the tutor had already met with her son twice and that her son really likes him because the tutor explains things really well.  I was glad to hear that things had worked out and I enjoyed the details that my friend included in her unnecessary, but truly appreciated, thank you.

The Kindness of Updates

"I appreciate anything thoughtful."
~ Hilary Rhoda

While I was on a recent business trip, one of my children was invited to celebrate a birthday with friends at a water park.  The park is more than an hour away from our home.  The mother who took the girls sent the mothers of the girls who went regular updates.  She wrote to let us know that they had arrived at the park and then a while later, she told us that she would not have her phone as she was going on some of the slides with the girls.  The mother then sent us a photo of the girls having a great time and let us know when they got in the car to head back.  I texted the mother to thank her for the updates and shared that I get nervous about their going so far, especially when I am out of town.  "I would worry, too," she replied, "That's why I send the updates."  I truly appreciated her thoughtfulness.

The Kindness of an Outing

“A visit to a cinema is a little outing in itself.  It breaks the monotony of an afternoon or evening; it gives a change from the surroundings of home, however pleasant.”

 -  Ivor Novello

While I was on a business trip recently, friends of ours – a married couple -- graciously offered to take our children on a movie outing.  The afternoon movie outing included dinner afterward at one of our children’s favorite restaurants.  Our friends not only entertained the children, but also sent photos – a precious gift to a traveling mom.  Of course, our children had a terrific time and I was delighted that they had fun.  We are very blessed to have these two special people as part of our village.

The Kindness of Unsolicited Advice

“All of us, at certain moments of our lives, need to take advice and to receive help from other people.”

  - Alexis Carrel

I recently heard a beautiful story from a colleague in her mid-60s.  Attractive, smart and engaging, my colleague has been divorced for a long time and would welcome the opportunity to meet someone and have a partner with whom to enjoy life.  She shared that while standing in a line to purchase tickets,  she overhead an older married couple behind her bickering.  They were arguing about why one of them had not bought the tickets earlier.  Having heard enough, my colleague turned around and asked them if they knew what they were doing.  She said that they were married and that they should be happy, and that she would welcome the opportunity to be married to someone.  I told my colleague that it would be terrific if she could share that view with married couples, so many of whom have lost perspective of how blessed they are to have a life partner.  And then I called my husband to tell him how glad I am to be married to him.

The Kindness of Another Passenger

“Give back in some way.  Always be thoughtful of others.”

 -  Jackie Joyner-Kersee

A colleague of mine was on her way to another city for business.  The flight was delayed for several hours and the passengers were not given any information about when the plane might leave.  My colleague finally decided that she would go to get something to eat, so she jokingly told another passenger that she needed to get a drink.  She went to a restaurant close to the gate and ordered food.  Several minutes later, the passenger came to the restaurant to tell her that the flight was leaving.  She was incredibly grateful and thanked him profusely.

The Kindness of a Question

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

 - Martin Luther King, Jr.

As I walked out of a Barnes and Noble store this weekend, there was an older man in a wheelchair outside the store.  Three young women were walking into the store and one of them said very kindly to him, “Are you going in?”  It turns out that he was not, but I have no doubt that the question lifted his spirtis.

The Kindness of Sweet Talk

“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.”

-  Stevie Wonder

End-of-year summer school uniform shopping is anything but fun.  The one place in the county that carries the required uniforms is a madhouse.  Everyone seems impatient, overwhelmed and in a hurry – all at once.  It is difficult to find the aisle with the school that you are looking for, much less figure out the sizing system.  Mothers drag reluctant children around.  And there is even a line for the dressing rooms. 

One dressing room had the door ajar and inside was a woman on her knees in front of a crying toddler, trying to get a shirt over his head.  “I am going to put this over your head and then I will take it off right away – it will only be a second,” she said and smiled at him.  She was being so sweet and not exhibiting any frustration that I thought she had to be an aunt or other relative, not his mother.  “Is he yours?” I asked.  Yes, she said.  I told her that it was so nice that she was being so patient with him.  She shrugged as if she knew no other way.

My children commented on it later.  “She was so patient,” one of my daughters said. “I am going to be like her when I am a mother.”  All of them chimed in their agreement.

I was grateful for the beautiful example.