The Kindest Thing

April 2 - The Kindest Thing Someone Did For You

The "kindest" thing is a daunting prompt. My life has been filled with people that have taken the time to show me kindness when they absolutely did not have to. This has been a good exercise in thinking back through the years of so many. 

A dear colleague that reached out to mentor and encourage me when, after more than 30 years, I had to sit for my professional evaluation again. I was terrified and she made that process 1,000 times less awful. 

Friends that have sat with me through some of the hardest seasons of life, not attempting to fix anything, but just listened and were a steady presence.

Many, many long walks at the lake, lunches with Dr. Pepper and chocolate while our children played like they were completely feral. These people know who they are and literally saved my life.

My mom staying with me as we brought each child home, patiently being everything I could not be. My dad telling me his high school breakup story when my high school world felt like it would never be okay again. (Spoiler: it did indeed get better.)

Friends that know exactly when to say, "You wanna meet at the coffee shop and visit?" 

Those that have patiently walked with me, answered my questions, listened to me rant and mourn as I've walked this long wilderness journey of seeing my world get both bigger and smaller at the same time. They did not have to be patient. They did not have to answer my questions. They did not have to wait for me to finally "get it" - but they have.

Friends that just know when I'm drowning and step in to help, or send a text at exactly the right moment, or a reel or a meme that we're the only two people in the world that will think it's the best.

Friends that have sent me fancy tea, a new mug, a baby Yoda, new earrings. Each of them had no idea that the timing was perfect. 

The folks on our outreach days, both those we serve with and those we're there for - especially them. With absolutely nothing to give, they give themselves. 

Each of these have taught me to never ignore the voices that tells me to call someone, to reach out when someone comes to mind, to pick up that little thing that made me think of them, to have enough flex in my schedule to have time for the unexpected conversations. 

Because we never know when that thing we said or did is the thing that kept someone's head above water for a few more hours. That gave them a reason to keep trying. That reminded them they're not the failure they feel like they are right at that moment. 

Be kind. It matters.