Kindness

My husband received a very special Father's Day gift from a very special family in Tucson yesterday. (Thank you, John, Wendy and kids!)   It was a beautiful handmade bell from the Ben's Bells project (www.bensbells.org).  The mission of this organization is "to inspire, educate and motivate each other to realize the impact of intentional kindness and to empower individuals to act according to that awareness, thereby changing our world."  I am "seasoned" enough to have observed and experienced untold examples of intentional kindness and I want to always remain child-like enough to believe that fulfilling the mission of Ben's Bells could actually change the world.

Intentional kindness has changed my world through our journey through cancer. From the moment of my diagnosis I have been overwhelmed in the very best of ways by the intentional kindness of others. Those kindnesses have come in more forms than could ever be summarized here.  My spirits have been lifted from the doldrums over and over again by unexpected outreaches of people who have set themselves aside for the moment and put another's needs before their own.

My prayer is that I never forget the powerful impact of a simple act of kindness and that I may be blessed by being allowed to forward those many kindnesses, and more, to others as I re-enter life.

"....dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you:  compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline."-Colossians 3:12 (The Message).

"Mighty God,

If by unkindness I have wounded or hurt another, do Thou pour in the balm of heavenly consolation.

If I have turned coldly from need, misery, grief,.........fill me with an over-flowing ocean of compassion, the reign of love my motive, the law of love my rule....."-The Valley of Vision:  A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions).

"The true meaning of life is to plants trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit"-Nelson Henderson.

On the health front:

Looks as if it will be a pretty good day😊