From the moment we sat down I could tell that she was having a tough day. After we ordered coffee I looked for an opportunity to gently reach out. The moment came when my son and dad were chatting about sports and she passed behind me. I leaned back and quietly said, “How are you today, you seem a little down – everything okay?” She took a deep breath and looked right at me. Then she responded with slumped shoulders, “I am stressed! Life is so tough being a single mom with two kids. There are so many expenses and I feel like I just need a break.” We continued to chat for a few more minutes before she had to deliver breakfast to another table. Before she did I heard her softly say to me, “Thanks for noticing, it’s nice to see you again.”
Saint Mother Teresa said, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” Mother said many profound things in her lifetime without fancy words or directions – just simple, direct thoughts from a life lived for others. When we treat others with kindness, everything else good in life naturally follows. Unfortunately, in certain instances, kindness has not been the order of the day lately. So what are we to do? Wish that things were different or follow Mother Teresa’s example of love.
Personally, I am in favor of starting a kindness revolution in this country. Kindness toward ALL people, no exceptions. ALL people are created in the image of our Creator God, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27) God loves every person, and does not make exceptions based on arbitrary conditions, do we? If we are really to be happy in this life, kindness toward ALL people must be our priority in daily living. In fact, kindness has been essential for human flourishing since the time of the ancient Greeks. The philosopher Aristotle said, “kindness is a virtue, it’s a character trait that contributes to a good and fulfilling life.”
Thinking back to my server friend at the restaurant, I had tried to offer her a small dose of kindness when I observed her distress. I am sure that I didn’t take away her anxiety but perhaps I added a little happiness to her day just by showing her that someone cared. (Please God!) I think this is what Mother Teresa was talking about – we can all offer some “short and easy to speak kind words” to someone today, tomorrow or anytime. When we do, the echos of love from our hearts will transcend any hatred from opposing voices. We are always called to turn away from those negative voices in this world and toward Love, who is God. In fact, not even imprisonment in Rome could darken the heart of St. Paul as he wrote many letters to new Christian churches. Inspired by Jesus’ Gospel of love, St. Paul wrote to one church in Ephesus, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.“(Ephesians 4:32) Kindness for ALL – a revolution that everyone seeking happiness should want to join.
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Very nice. Thanks for sharing those thoughts.
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