Random Acts of Kindness

For many years I have been practicing random acts of kindness. It is a lot of fun and so rewarding to know you have made a difference in someone’s life—no matter how small. Recently, I was in a dollar store, standing in line to pay for my few purchases.

Behind me stood a teenage boy with three bottles of beverage. He had three dollars and change out, waiting for his turn to pay the cashier.

I could tell he had an attitude going on and thought to myself, This could be interesting. I told the cashier I had yet to do my random act of kindness for the day, so I wanted to pay for the young man behind me. When his turn came, he was told his purchases had been paid for. He thanked the cashier and then looked daggers at me.

The cashier told him not to thank her but to thank me, which he very grudgingly did before he walked out the door. Kindness, even when it is not appreciated or reciprocated, is always appropriate and never wasted. Mother Teresa is credited with the counsel, “Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” Kindness, even when rebuffed, will eventually start a seed growing, and the result will be magnificent. Won’t we have a wonderful time when we eventually get to heaven and find out that some of the seeds we have planted have grown into delightful fruit for the spiritual life? Before Jesus comes, we all need an attitude adjustment.

This boy was a minority, and I consider myself to be one too—just being old puts me in that category. Those of you who are older might know what I am talking about. Maybe he has never heard that Jesus loves every one of us the same.

Maybe he has never heard about the saving grace of a Savior who came and died for him. Whatever the case, it appeared that this boy, in his short life, had learned to dislike certain people. How sad, because these feelings are taught or come from unpleasant experiences. Whatever the case, I saw this as an opportunity to pray for this young man, to ask Jesus to help him in his walk through life, and I have not stopped remembering him.

Can Jesus work a miracle? Yes, He can.

Jesus invites us to “show kindness and mercy.” Let us fervently pray for one another and show kindness every day. Jesus is coming soon.

Grace A. Keene