Random Acts of Kindness Do Make a Difference

After a snowstorm when most were forced to stay home from work, including my husband, I was surprised to hear the front door open. I glanced out the window to see him scooping snow to help a stranger, whose car was stuck in the alley, free his vehicle, in a random act of kindness.

A few days later, before heading to a nearby town to a belated celebration of our grandson's birthday, I heard a cry for help from the park across the street. Heading to the front door, I opened it and listened. The panic sounded clear in the bright stillness of the afternoon. "Help. Oh, someone please help. Help me!"

I yelled for my husband. "Keith, someone is calling for help." He grabbed his coat and went to help out.

Turned out a dog, that probably got out of his backyard because of the snow drifts, tangled with a lady walking her dog in the park. Her dog got bit. She got bit trying to keep the dogs apart. Keith helped by bringing the loose pet home before calling in the incident. The woman secured her dog at home and came over to check if the loose dog's tags were up-to-date. They were. I found ointment and a bandage for the woman's bleeding thumb.

The officer came and left the house with the dog (seemed a nice enough animal) and the woman. Watching from the window, I saw a vehicle pull up and a man get out, obviously the dog's owner. A conversation ensued; seemed calm. Eventually, the dog's owner left without his dog and the woman left with the officer-the dog in the back.

A short while later, we were on the road to our birthday celebration. Everything was fine until we got off interstate to head into town. Our car died at the stop light. When it happened a second time, the car didn't restart.

In another random act of kindness, two Good Samaritans in a pickup came to help, gently pushing us to the side of the road and taking a look under the hood, but without success. After a bit the engine did restart, and we made it safely to the celebration. In a small way we wanted to help out. So, after the gifts, pizza and cake, we babysat our three grandkids so our son and daughter-in-law could go out alone for a bit, something they don't get to do often with three little kids.

God never said we could help everyone, but He does expect us to do what we can to help others. The message of true Christianity is all about help, about reaching out to the hurting, to meeting needs and offering hope. Sometimes it doesn't seem like much, but reaching out not only is a help to others, it also gives us a sense of well-being and satisfaction we never get when we think only about ourselves.

In fact, Jesus said that to help others is the same as helping Him. Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink? ...Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? ...Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me. Matthew 25:37-40 MKJV

Kindness begins with a choice to help, to reach out and spreads in random and not-so-random acts of kindness. What a difference to our outlook, our neighborhoods, our cities, nation and world if we focused on helping, on acts of kindness, instead of hurting others.