In praise of kindness

I've just spent an hour with a 92 year old, who is disabled. She has just travelled down through France. What a delight she is - bright and warm. Over a cup of tea we chatted about this and that - nothing special - but she held my hand throughout and her eyes were full of kindness and an understanding of life. A special meeting between two strangers.

Butter

I do so agree that a little kindness is so important in all our day to day lives. I used to have a car sticker which said "Commit Random Acts of Kindness". It fell off and I have never been able to find another one! it made lots of people smile when they saw it. There are lots of kind people on gransnet.

Some here wisewoman:

Random Acts of Kindness stickers

Loved your poems pogs

This week I have both given and received kindness - and I do think it's important to maintain a good balance. Under the influence of children's story writers of the 50's I grew up wanting to be a 'nice', 'kind' person. This was all well and good, but suffering from shyness and low self-esteem I found it very hard, for many years, to accept kindness from others.
In recent years I've learned how to receive - and my life is so much richer. I have also had to learn the limits of being kind and sometimes let others do 'kind' things instead of me; when, for instance, my health hasn't been good.

I'm home and have never been happier! I want to celebrate my sobriety with you ladies and gentlemen. I'd would be so pleased if you would consider doing a random act of kindness for me. My heart is still heavy at times and the though of kindness being spread would help continue the smile on my face! Love to all. Annie

*BIG LOVE to you *FAIRHAIR , so happy everything went well, and thankx so much for keeping in touch !

Welcome back Fairhair

I've tried
To paste and copy a poem by Hilaire Belloc called
COURTESY
Can't manage to do it.
I think courtesy and kindness are very alike!

Fair hair, how brave you are. Welcome back. I too think kindness is one of the most important qualities any of us can have or receive .

Galen Here it is:

Courtesy

Of Courtesy, it is much less
Than Courage of Heart or Holiness,
Yet in my Walks it seems to me
That the Grace of God is in Courtesy.

On Monks I did in Storrington fall,
They took me straight into their Hall;
I saw Three Pictures on a wall,
And Courtesy was in them all.

The first the Annunciation;
The second the Visitation;
The third the Consolation,
Of God that was Our Lady's Son.

The first was of St. Gabriel;
On Wings a-flame from Heaven he fell;
And as he went upon one knee
He shone with Heavenly Courtesy.

Our Lady out of Nazareth rode -
It was Her month of heavy load;
Yet was her face both great and kind,
For Courtesy was in Her Mind.

The third it was our Little Lord,
Whom all the Kings in arms adored;
He was so small you could not see
His large intent of Courtesy.

Our Lord, that was Our Lady's Son,
Go bless you, People, one by one;
My Rhyme is written, my work is done.

That's the one!
I had to read it aloud at an elocution competion!
I've always loved it!
Along with his other owner music sounds
Gone is my soul I know

And

A piper on the streets today

I think that he is a forgotten and underestimated poet!

We had to read his Cautionary Tales when I was at little school. I can still remember learning most of 'Jim' - whose friends were very good to him . . . . and 'Henry King', whose 'chief defect was bits of string' !! Both came to a sticky end!