Cold season has it's own social rules where you must warn others if you are sick, stay home if you are too sick, and be careful of catching other people's germs. 'Contagious' is the big question everyone asks. "Am I contagious?" No one wants to be kept in bed for the day....unless you are a cat.
I've been thinking how kindness is also contagious. When your kids are little, it's hard to tell what they are picking up from you. You say and do things in the hope that they will follow suit one day. At our house, it's easy to tell which parent the kid learned each specific phrase from. But as my oldest grows up, she's demonstrating that she's been listening all along. Before running errands, we pray together each morning "Help us be a blessing to those around us today." Lately, God has been answering that prayer and opening our eyes to how we can bless others.
Monday morning, we were getting ready to run errands when my daughter looked at her beloved turtle craft hanging on the fridge and announced, "I want to do something kind for the Aldi employees! I want to take my picture to them." However in the rush to get out the door, we forgot. Once in the van, she remembered her planned act of kindness and asked me to go get it. When you look in your daughter's beautiful blue eyes and see her heart longing to surprise a stranger with a gift from her heart....you can't say 'no'. So we ran back in the house to grab the picture, and off we went to the store.
At Aldi, she carefully carried around her precious picture looking for the right employee to give it to. We agreed the cashier would be a good choice. As we checked out, she started telling him about the turtle picture (which he complemented) and then presented him with her treasure. I explained the morning's conversation so he would understand the significance of this gift. He very graciously told my daughter he would have to place it in the store office so it would be safe.
In a bustling world, where we run here and there trying to get everything done......how often do we stop to show kindness. Reality is my daughter's 'art' was a piece of paper with scrap ribbon glued to it. But in that moment, she told the cashier that he mattered and we appreciated him. (He is a pretty cool cashier, we've had conversations with him before) Filled with that joy, his cup is fuller to be able to pour into others.
One night this week, I was out under the stars waiting for the dog to stretch her legs. I heard two different flocks of geese or ducks as they flew overhead. I couldn't see them in the dark, but I could hear their constant honks of encouragement to each other as they flew over. Each one honking "I'm here! Are you there? How are you? Keep flying!" As they flew over my head, I heard the rush of their wings beating together to keep the group flying together. Their honks and wings working in unison to encourage one another on in their journey.
In this season of cold weather and colds, let's remember that kindness is contagious too. The kindness the coffee barista showed me in creating a pumpkin spice drink for me in a mocha season and the kindness of my husband encouraging me to take 'mom breaks' to write and drink coffee feed my heart so I can pour out into our kids.
I'm raising my wings with you, and honking in encouragement. "Keep flying! I'm here with you!" Let's spur one another one, passing on kindness (and hopefully not germs) and encourage one another on in our journeys.
I'd love to know how you've received encouragement lately! Please send me a message or leave a comment.
Sojourning with you,
Felicia
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