Small Acts of Kindness/Common Courtesy

One of my friends, Jen Barbosa, was waiting in line at a store when she was able to provide a small act of kindness. Here’s the story, in her words…

In a long line at the store, an elderly lady was having trouble paying for her twenty dollars worth of groceries. At first, I didn’t know what the hold up was, being further back in line.

As I started paying attention, I figured it out. Is it unreasonable of me that I was kind of angry (OK, maybe more then kind of! 😉) that not one person close by offered to pay it?! Was no one else raised to do the right thing?!

No worries. I pushed my way thru, paid it, and refused to give the poor lady, who is now in tears, my address for repayment. I returned to my spot in line and waited my turn. I don’t feel this was some huge act of kindness. Just remember common courtesy, everyone.

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Jen Barbosa is a 37-year-old personal trainer with certifications in private training, cardio kickboxing, and nutrition consulting. I love helping people achieve their goals! Currently, I am based out of Moulton Athletic Club in Moulton , AL.

Small Acts of Kindness/ACFW Conference 2016

By Jennifer Hallmark

I love stories about small, often random acts of kindness. Even in the world we live in, people amaze me with their generosity, thoughtfulness, and compassion. Today I want to share about a person who touched my life in a very special way.

In 2014, I remember reading a post about a premiere Christian fiction writing conference, one sponsored by the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). The article mentioned that in August of 2016, the conference would be coming to Nashville, a two-hour drive from my house. I prayed.

“God, I’d really like to go to that one. Do you think you can make it happen?”

One quick prayer and I went back to normal life and didn’t think of it again until around Christmas of 2015. At this time, my husband and I decided to attend my nieces wedding out of state in June of 2016. Our son was getting married in May and I knew that our budget wouldn’t afford all these events. I let it go and decided maybe I could attend a smaller conference in 2017.

But God…

Fast forward to August 17^th, 2016, one week before the ACFW conference. I was sitting in the recliner, wrapped in a blanket. I’d just called the doctor to make an appointment because of a sinus/cold/yucky thing I’d been dealing with for several days. I looked down and noticed I had a Facebook message from one of my good writer friends, Betty Thomason Owens. She said she’d just received word of a friend, Patricia Fay Reece, who couldn’t go to the conference because of an injury. Patricia was trying to find someone to take her place.

I messaged Betty, telling her I couldn’t afford to go at this time and I was hoping to win a scholarship to another conference in 2017. At this point, I went ahead and called her so I could quit messaging. I asked again about the offer.

“You don’t understand,” Betty said. “Pat wants to give this to someone.”

I’m sure I sat there in silence for several minutes, so many thoughts going through my mind. I remembered the prayer. Tears welled in my eyes and I swallowed hard.

“Really? Like free?”

“Yes.”

Within 24 hours, I was registered at the conference and the hotel, and even had a ride to the event with my friend, Ginger Solomon, who lives in a town near me. I had a long talk with Patricia who lives on the West coast. She kept telling me to give God the praise. She was following what she felt like He wanted her to do.

So I am. I’m praising Him while deciding what to wear, what writing materials I need to take, and trying to find out which of my writer friends will be in attendance so we can meet and chat. I give Him all the glory for the week ahead. I hope I can positively impact someone else’s life while I’m there. And Patricia, I know you said not to, but I’m sending a big hug your way and another thank you.

For providing a special act of kindness…

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Patricia Fay Reece lives in Washington state, along the Columbia River. A native of Tennessee, she enjoys researching the past history of her ancestors and the times in which they lived. The historical novels she writes have been inspired by that history.

Little Girl has Tea Party with Police Officer Who Saved Her Life/Kindness Blog

Penny that Bexley swallowed.

Another great post I read on the Kindness blog. Check out more stories like it here...

On a recent afternoon in Rowlett, Texas Police Corporal Patrick Ray poured imaginary tea into a minuscule cup adorned with pink flowers for his 2-year-old hostess, Bexley. The occasion for the outdoor tea party was the one-year anniversary marking the day the Rowlett officer saved Bexley Norvell’s life.

On July 26, 2015, Ray responded to the Norvells’ home after getting a call about a child in distress. Bexley, then 22 months old, became unresponsive after swallowing a small coin, which became lodged in her throat. ‘When I looked at her, I just saw these big, blue eyes looking at me. It was almost like she was telling me, “I know you’re here to help me,”’ Ray told CBS DFW after the incident.

His body camera was rolling as he went to work trying to clear the little girl’s airways. A few minutes later, Bexley began breathing again and started crying. Looking back on that day a year ago, the Rowlett cop, who has two children of his own, said of the moment Bexley finally drew a breath: ‘It was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard in my entire life.’

Patrick Ray has been in the Norvells’ thoughts and prayers for the past year. ‘I won’t ever forget this man and I told his wife, “You know, I’m going to think of your husband every single day for the rest of my life,” and I hope she’s okay with that,’ Tammy Norvell, Bexley’s mother, said after the girl’s brush with death last summer.

Officer Ray was presented with the Rowlett Police Department’s Life-Saving Award from Police Chief Brodnax last year. The Norvells were on hand for the ceremony. Today, one year later, the family and Officer Ray and his family are closer than ever.

“I feel that I have no words, even after a year,” she said. “There’s no way to repay him.”

The Rowlett cop said he is looking forward to seeing Bexley grow up. “We’re buddies. I can watch her get married. I can watch her have a family. She could have lost her life that day, and I got super lucky,” Officer Ray said.

Souvenirs from an Unforgettable Trip

I just got back from a 3-week trip up the eastern seaboard and into Quebec. It was a wonderful time and we saw so much it would take much more than a blog post to go through it all. But I’ll share one experience here.

As we made our way back home from Canada, we stayed in Madawaska, Maine with some friends who have a cabin there. As we toured the town and its surroundings, they shared many details about the area, including the geography, topography, and personal history.

Paul and Bonnie live about 50 yards off the shore of Madawaska Lake. We stayed at their home three days and three nights and got to meet and enjoy their friends. One evening, their some of their long-time friends and extended family sat around the campfire with us, sharing stories and generally enjoying each others’ company. They were so friendly I felt like we’d known each other a long time.

 

The second night we were there, John brought me forget-me-nots from their garden for no particular reason.  I’d only met him 24 hours prior, but he wanted to give me something. I have no idea why, but it was a nice gesture.  I pressed them in a journal and will have them for years to come.

 

It didn’t cost John a penny, and it didn’t take any time, but his gift of those flowers is something special. A small act of kindness, for no reason, that I’ll remember for a long time.

Small Acts of Kindness: The Blessing of a Loving Church Family

By Wendi Turner

What is a small act of kindness? Maybe it’s a smile or a hug. I guess it’s different for everyone. I have had the pleasure of being a grateful recipient of many acts of kindness throughout my life and each one is very special to me in its own way. It was so hard trying to choose just one to write about. I’ll share today the act of kindness when I was going through a very difficult time physically.

I’d been diagnosed with breast cancer, undergone a mastectomy, and was now going through about six months of chemotherapy. The first three months were the hardest. I had to take the drug many of you unfortunately know of as ‘The Red Devil.’

And boy was it tough!

But I was so blessed to have a wonderful support group. My husband, Ken, was absolutely amazing. He took such good care of me. My two sons were also awesome as they filled in whenever their dad was at work. Not one of them complained. I also had help from my family and Ken’s family and our friends. Everyone was so great.

I had the greatest support of all for me, Ken, and my boys from my church family. They fed my family for the first three months. You may think, well, what’s so great about that? Let me tell you…the entire three months consisted of home-cooked meals, many from scratch. And not once did we have the same meal twice! Now that’s pretty amazing!

I will never be able to express the gratitude I have for the kindness my family was shown. So when I think about a small act of kindness, I’m not sure I believe there is such a thing—I do believe that any act of kindness—no matter what it may be is huge! And very much appreciated…