Small Acts of Kindess

I think that God has created us to help others and there is no greater feeling than knowing we have been helpful. But it is hard.

It is hard to do consistently for at least three reasons:

1. We seldom get feedback that our small acts of kinds make a difference in the lives of others. It is hard to continue to sacrifice for others when you are unsure it makes any difference.
2. Our motives can be misunderstood. More than once I have really tried to help someone and my actions were judged as selfish or manipulative. That really hurts and it is enough to give you pause before helping again.
3. Sometimes our efforts to help go badly and we do more harm than good. This is a fear I have every time I have a serious conversation with someone about the deep parts of their soul. When I graduated from counseling school, I had great confidence that I could talk to others about the deep issues and be of substantial help. After graduation I discovered I was better equipped to ask good questions and occasionally give helpful insight. I also realized that much of my confidence was misplaced and I could now hurt others while trying to be helpful. I have become much more cautious in talking with others about their lives.

THE  IMPACT OF A SMALL ACT OF KINDNESS 

A couple of weeks ago while traveling, I unknowingly dropped my sunglasses in a parking lot. I did not notice they were missing until the next day and didn’t know where I had lost them. Because they are expensive glasses with prescription lenses, the next day I retraced my steps hoping to find them. I went into the restaurant where I had lunch and an office where I had a meeting that day. When the sunglasses were not at either place, I was just about out of hope. In an act of desperation, I went by the parking lot thinking even if they were there they would have been run over or badly damaged from spending a day and night on the asphalt.

I was not surprised when I did not see my sunglasses on black asphalt.  But I noticed

The Lost had been found

something like sunglasses on the grass next to the parking lot. I went to investigate and sure enough, my sunglasses were safely nestled in the grass. Someone had moved them and placed them safely on the grass next to the parking spot. I was very surprised and so happy to have found them.

The Old Man was so happy

After the joy began to fade, I thought about the person who took the time to move the sunglasses. I wanted to find this person and to tell them how much their kindness has helped me. I wanted to give them a reward and tell them how they saved me hundreds of dollars. But it is impossible to know who it was.

BEING KIND WITHOUT THANKS, REWARD, OR RECOGNITION

Since I found my sunglasses, I have thought a lot about the person who moved them. It was a small act of kindness, and when they committed this act, there was no way they could know if it would be helpful or not. They will never receive any thanks, reward, or recognition for what they did. But I am so grateful.

I am not only grateful, but I am also inspired. I want to be this kind of person who does things for others not knowing if it is helpful or not. I want to be kind, and not desire any thanks, reward, or recognition. Occasionally I participate in acts of kindness in a totally thoughtless way. But most of the time I want to know it was helpful. More than I want to admit, I hope someone notices what I have done, and I secretly hope to receive some expression of gratitude.

It is hard to consistently do things to help others. But since finding my sunglasses, because of the kindness of a person I will never meet, I am renewing my commitment to being kind to others not knowing if it is helpful or not. I am renewing my commitment to serve, not seeking any recognition or reward. I hope that today you will be inspired to participate in a small act of kindness.