SOMETHING BIG

 

“Kindness in words creates confidence.

Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.

Kindness in giving creates love.” ...Lao Tzu

You probably read or heard about the policeman who bought a homeless man a pair of shoes and some socks...the man was out in the cold w/bare feet. Shortly thereafter the same man was seen w/o shoes again; when asked what happened to them he replied he had hidden them. There's more to the story; it's creating much discussion/different viewpoints about helping those who seem in need.

Kindness is a big thing.

A friend of mine was in the checkout line behind an elderly lady who didn't have enough to pay for what she had in her basket so my friend told the cashier to go ahead...she would pay the balance. The woman tearfully hugged and thanked her; called her a Christmas Angel...sweet action.

Kindness is a very big thing.

While we were living in Wisconsin, Michael encountered a young couple who were desperate to get to Florida...seems they working in a circus! They had no money. They weren't married, she was pregnant; her family kicked her out of their home because her boyfriend was of a different race.

M put them in a motel: fed them and later on bought them tickets to Florida...took them to the bus station so they could be on their way.

Oops! Guess what? He 'bumped' into them later ~ seems they didn't leave, they cashed in their tickets and...that was the end of that. No judgments, no lectures. M wasn't in the wrong because?

Kindness is still a big thing!

I'm ordinarily careful, but I was at Lowe's one day when I 'bumped' into a concrete barricade w/our Toyota...yikes! My heart skipped a few beats so I hopped out of the car to check for damage, carefully shut the door behind me and WHAT??? The doors locked (so no one can get in, right); the cars running w/my key in the ignition...I see my bag w/cell phone, etc. parked on the seat. Aargh.

Me? Well, I'm standing outside in what is now...rain! What was I thinking...rather, why wasn't I thinking? Moot point, I did it so what now?

Spotting a guy sitting in his pick-up watching me, I casually trotted over there for something; who knows...figuring that en route! He lowered the window and grinningly said, "You locked yourself out, didn't you?" Oh yeah, you noticed, huh? He handed me his cell phone and I got M...thank you God. He was at our storage rental place and said he'd come in a while...when I told him the car was running (made a little difference) he changed to 'I'll be there in a minute"...actually took a bit longer than a minute 'cause he had to stop by our house for a car key!

I did not get in the guy's truck to wait...I stood out in the rain (although under a tree...hoping there was no lightning) 'til M arrived. He's never asked how it happened...wise, yes? That guy in the truck was nice...kind...saved my skin.

Kindness is a very big thing.

Michael, Vasca and four small boys joined the Army and off we went to Williamsburg, Virginia. We arrived on Saturday...trotted off to worship the next morning and had such a wonderful, warm reception. The nicest young couple (fairly newlyweds) invited us to come on post at Ft. Eustis that afternoon and look at their quarters. They thought we'd probably be assigned an apartment like theirs. (And we were)

That afternoon we happily rang their doorbell; Sara later told me she never thought we'd accept the invite...ha, ha! We still laugh about that.

Michael flew out a couple of days later to an unknown destination for an unknown period of time. It was during the Cuban missile crisis...trust me, Michael was gone for a very, very long time.

Welcome to the Army, Bealls!

Larry and Sara took over...they were our family then...they remain so 'til this day. Except, we're missing Larry; he died very suddenly two years ago. M & I have breakfast each morning in our combo bistro/utility room/office; we eat at a small table we bought while shopping w/Larry & Sara...last time we were w/him. We miss him so much but we remember all the kindness.

Kindness is a very big thing...yes!

Bob and Lou hooked up with us in Greece; military family. We had much in common being from the Sooner state and she and I shared a name...my middle name is Lou.

Bob suffered several heart attacks and was discharged from the military but a couple of years later we ran into them again. Saw one of their kids on the street in Lawton one day and tracked them down. Lou developed cancer while in nursing school there.

Michael was whisked off to Ethiopia so the four boys and I stayed in Lawton that year...Bob and Lou took care of us. Bob had his hands full; I had two emergency surgeries and Bob took me to the hospital while Lou was also in the hospital. The nurses discovered he had 'two wives'...lots of laughter there.

Lou died a year later...during that year she forced her daughter and I to take her to the movies...she had to see "Love Story"...you can imagine how that affected us. Her last request to me was to bring her a dish of her favorite Greek food, Moussaka. So? Ha, I baked it and delivered it to her hospital room (trying desperately to disguise the very strong aroma)...she smiled and took a few bites; she loved it anyway. So many memories...so much kindness.

Kindness is and for always a very, very big thing...yes, oh yes!

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch

a smile, a kind word, a listening ear,

an honest compliment,

or the smallest act of caring,

all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

Leo Buscaglia

From my heart...to yours