By Anne Haraughty, Ministries Coordinator
The schools my children attend are promoting a Kindness Challenge this week which prompted me to give acts of kindness some extra thought.
It sounds easy to be kind, but, in reality, being kind often takes thought and effort. I often miss opportunities to be kind because I’m busy, I’m distracted, or generally focused on myself. Acts of kindness don’t always come naturally to me, and they might take me out of my comfort zone, but that’s no excuse so I am challenging myself to be more intentional. Practice makes progress.
My daughter brought home a list of kindness suggestions, and boy, do I love a list! Here are some simple ideas that resonated with me:
– Sit with someone who is sitting alone.
– Give a compliment to someone working hard.
– Offer a hug, high five, or fist bump.
– Register to be an organ donor or donate blood.
– Send a care package to someone away from home.
– Smile.
– Be a good listener.
– Volunteer your time.
– Pick up litter.
– Offer encouragement.
– At the dinner table, ask “Who did you help today?” and “Who helped you today?”
“Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” – Adapted from Plato
