Recently we watched the film Paying if Forward an intriguing story of one little boy inspired to do one act of kindness with the expectation that the person receiving would in turn 'pay it forward' by doing something for someone else. I don't want to spoil the plot but the film has themes of forgiveness, redemption (becoming someone better) and sacrifice - the ultimate price being death. Sounds familiar somehow...
This may sound rather grand but what might it mean for me? A smile in passing, a gentle word of encouragement or something more.
One day when I was feeling a bit down two friends turned up, got out of the car, handed me some beautiful roses and gently refusing to stay, went away, leaving me touched by their kindness and words of comfort.Another friend told me how she was talking to someone in the street who was struggling with health issues and said how she loved pavlova. My friend promptly went home and made her one. Hadn't even known that person's name before.
And when an old friend in a nursing home expressed a desire to eat crumbed brains (shudder!) I found some, cooked them as she had described and watched the delight she showed as she munched them. I did not eat any!!
Conversations in the supermarket, text messages of love in hard times, a handwritten card in the mail. So many opportunities.
Making the world a better place one act of kindness at a time. Not at all cheesy.
