The last few days, since my post about New Year's resolutions, I've had kindness on my mind. Several years ago I went through about a two week period when everywhere I looked the word "kindness" was hitting me in the face. Every time I opened my Bible, a book, a magazine or any form of written word it jumped out as if in bold type. At that time I was still working full time at a bank and at the end of a particularly long hectic day, while driving home, I noticed the license plate of the car in front of me. You guessed it ~ it read "Kindness". Just that one word. And do you know, I saw that car everywhere I went for the next week or so! Now one has to finally say, "O.K. I get it. I'm supposed to sit up and take notice here."
During that time, my job entailed training new bank tellers. I began to make that the first order of business to teach each one of them. The importance of good old fashioned kindness. I told them to smile, be as pleasant as they could be and take an extra minute to chat with the customer. Most transactions at a bank don't take too terribly long and sadly enough it very well could be the only kind moment some people encounter on a particular day. It takes such a brief bit of our time and energy to be kind to the people around us. One never knows, maybe he or she just lost a loved one, got an upsetting diagnosis from the doctor, or is just plain lonely. In any job the details can be taught and learned and performed mechanically day in and day out. But shouldn't there be so much more to us than that? I was thinking today of how those of us who work with yarn are constantly creating things to keep a body warm. I hope that in the meantime we are also cultivating the art of kindness, because nothing else warms the soul, spirit and heart of our fellow man quite like it.
That being said, I did crochet this shawl today, which will hopefully wrap its wearer in warmth!
"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles." Washington Irving
"To cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life." Samuel Johnson
" I expect to pass through this life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again." William Penn
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
