3 Points to Ponder
- “An intentional act of kindness can have an incredible impact on someone else’s life. We just never know the ripple it can create. What is one intentional act of kindness you can focus on today?”
- “The fragrance of love can change a room, bringing forth something new. When you enter a room, what fragrance do people inhale?”
- “The ripple of kindness moves, typically stirring us to be more than we currently are. Who has been kind to you in your life? Do they know what they have meant to you?”
2 Quotes to Share
“Even small acts of kindness can make a profound difference to somebody else.” -Misha Collins
“It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.” -Gandalf, The Hobbit
1 Story of Impact
Following Christi Gabhart on my little Haitian motorcycle, we pull our bikes over on a little paved street in Pignon, Haiti. Across the street is a very plain, Haitian man that I’ve known for a long time who goes by the nickname Bygone. Bygone is one of those overlooked people of the world. Very little education, absent family, and is typically taken advantage of because he is hard-working and doesn’t ask questions. He and my dad had a very special connection, after serving together for years in Haiti. When Bygone heard of my dad’s sickness, emotions overtook Bygone as he wept. My dad played a father figure for Bygone, even across different countries and cultures. Walking into Bygone’s very tiny apartment, it was more than apparent his world was pretty small. He had very few items, a small bed, and a couple of chairs. That was it. Arthritis had set into his hands and joints from the years and years of physical labor, so work was hard. Upon seeing me, he ran and gave me a big hug, and started crying. And I cried too. I brought an obituary with Dad’s picture for him to have, and he held this like gold. He requested if he could have a plastic sleeve or something to protect it. In talking to him, he started to share memories of his interactions with Dad, and what struck me was something so simple. Bygone shared there was one day, he was working very hard digging a hole. He was way down in this pit and everyone else ignored him, except for Dad. Dad kept checking on him and would bring him cold water. Something super simple. Just a simple cup of water. And Bygone said, “Your dad was different. He saw me and gave me cold drinks of water. He was always looking out for me.” This statement struck me as many times I make living a life of impact very complicated. Big plans, lots of resources, and powerful connections do great things, yes, but so does a simple cup of water for someone in need. A conversation with the lonely. A hug to the hurting. A smile to the forgotten. My dad was a master at seeing the immediate. Bygone ended our time telling me that we are now family, as Dad’s love bound us together. I’ll take it as that is the cup of water I needed to hear that day.
