The Kindness of Remembering, Shopping and Shipping

"Every gift from a friend is a wish for your happiness."

~ Richard Bach

It always amazes me how some people manage to see through their good intentions.  I am especially in awe of the people who manage to remember, shop and ship.  These people remember birthdays and other occasions, decide on a gift, buy it and mail it.  Admittedly, the Internet has made shopping and shipping easier, but I still consider it an accomplishment.  In the past couple of months as my children celebrated various school and personal milestones, they received gifts that were personally shipped.  As much as the thoughtfulness is appreciated, I think that my children will not fully understand the kindness that is so generously bestowed on them until they are busy professionals, spouses and parents trying to deliver on their own good intentions.  For my part, I am grateful not only for the love of friends, but also for the example they are setting.

The Kindness of an Evening Call

"The greatest gift is a portion of thyself."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

On a recent evening, I texted a friend.  I thought her daughter's birthday was coming up.  I was off by a few weeks.  We texted back and forth a couple of times and then she called.  She said that she figured we would just go back and forth via text, and why not call.  That rare phone call!  We hadn't talked in weeks and we had a nice time catching up.  I truly appreciated her opting for that old-fashioned method of communication.  It was a gift.

The Kindness of a Godmother who Happens to be a Dentist

"Kindness and a generous spirit go a long way.  And a sense of humor.  It's like medicine -- very healing."

~ Max Irons

My children are blessed for many reasons and having a godmother who is a dentist is among them.  On a recent evening, she fit us into her busy office schedule as one of my children had a painful tooth situation.  Which called for an extraction!  I have no doubt that my child would have been mortified had it been anyone else doing the injecting and tooth pulling.  But it was my children's "Tita" who is incredibly funny and very kind.  So we managed to get through it -- without tears or screams.  And then our dentist fairy godmother reached out a couple of hours later to see how her little patient was faring.

Kindness and a 100th Birthday Celebration

"Love and kindness are never wasted.  They always make a difference.  They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver."

~ Barbara de Angelis

A woman turning 100 years old last week received a surprise on her special day in Norfolk, Virginia.  Members of Norfolk Fire-Rescue showed up at her house to deliver flowers and wish her well.  The woman's late husband had worked for the Fire Department for more than 30 years; her nephew and his father also worked for the city.  Given how this woman had shared her family with the city, the firefighters decided they wanted to be a part of her milestone celebration.  The photos of her smile -- as well as the smiles on the firefighters -- are priceless.

Kindness, Patience and Ice Cream

“Clearly older women and especially older women who have led an active life or elder women who successfully maneuver though their own family life have so much to teach us about sharing, patience and wisdom.”

~ Alice Walker

On a recent hot Sunday afternoon, I stood in a very long line outside an ice cream parlor waiting for my turn.  A young woman in line asked if someone spoke Spanish.  A woman in her 70s ahead of me asked the young woman in Spanish how she could help.  The young woman explained that she did not speak English and needed help ordering.  (She also told the older woman that she was a new mother and that her husband was waiting nearby with the baby.)  Part of the problem was that the young woman did not know what she wanted.  The older woman let the young woman go in front of her and helped her communicate with the gentleman at the cashier taking the orders.  It was slow going as the options needed to be explained and then translated.  But both the older woman and the cashier patiently communicated with each other and with the young woman.  To my surprise, everyone in line seemed to wait patiently, too – despite the heat and the wait.  And the young woman was able to get the ice cream she wanted for her and her husband.

Kindness and a Prayer Remembered

“I do believe we’re all connected.  I do believe in positive energy.  I do believe in the power of prayer.  I do believe in putting good out into the world.  And I believe in taking care of each other.”

~ Harvey Fierstein

While attending Mass in a city I was visiting, I saw a prayer on the back of the missal that was in the pew.  I hadn’t seen the prayer in a long time, but I immediately remembered that a friend had written it out on a piece of paper and given it to me more than seven years ago when one of my children was in the hospital.  It made me appreciate her kindness all over again.

The Kindness in a Postcard

“The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards.”

~ Anatole France

We rarely receive any mail that is handwritten these days.  But the other day, a beautiful postcard arrived addressed to my elementary-school son.  It was from one of his teachers who was on vacation in Ireland.  He was thrilled to receive it and looked in wonder at the castle depicted on the picture side and asked questions about it.  And then he placed the postcard in a place where he could see it from his bed.  I know that it required thoughtfulness and effort on the part of his teacher – she took our address with her, she bought the postcard and managed to get it mailed before leaving Ireland…  I also have no doubt that she taught him a few things in the process.