Some say there once was an old wise man who lived many years ago. He would watch the world go by and told his stories about the lessons he learned from watching. His name was Aesop.
And as his tales were told each one had a special message. He told a story long ago about kindness.
Have you thought of kindness lately?
Do you even know what it means?
Kindness is the ‘quality of being friendly, generous and considerate’.
Let us see what Aesop had to say about kindness:
“One day Aesop told the story about a dove who had seen an ant fall into a brook. As the ant struggled to reach the bank, the dove dropped a blade of straw close beside it in the water. Clinging to the straw, the ant, like ‘a shipwrecked sailor to a broken spar,’ managed to float safety to the shore.
“Soon after, the ant saw a man getting ready to kill the dove with a stone. But just as he cast the stone, the ant stung him in the heel, so that the pain made him miss his aim, and the startled dove flew to safety in a distant wood.“
The moral of this story ~ A kindness is never wasted.
Have you seen any acts of kindness?
“I walked the streets of the city, and saw some acts of kindness,” said the grandfather to his grandson; “may I speak of them to you?
“In the restaurant sat an old and lonely lady; her dress was shabby and appearance unkempt. A young gentleman told the waitress that he would pay for the lady’s lunch.
“At the coffee shop, an elderly man walked in to order his morning coffee; the lady in front of him said, ‘Sir, I have done no good deeds on this day, may I treat you to your morning coffee?’
“A young lad was with his parents on the way to the grocery store; as he approached the entrance, an old lady with a walking cane was slowly coming toward him; the young man waited, opened the door and bid the lady good day.”
No act of kindness is ever wasted, this lad once learned.
“The woman and her family were displaced by a serious fire and their home totally destroyed. A local stranger went to his bank, withdrew $1,000 and gave it to her to obtain some necessities.
“A nearby neighbor had lost her mother to a battle of cancer. Her friend came to visit the family to offer consoling, sympathy and assistance.
“The food bank was getting low on supplies, said the preacher to his congregation; please help to replenish the supplies was his prayer, and some church members responded.
“A woman had noticed a strange lump in her chest, and her doctor had ordered a biopsy; she confided in a neighbor who offered concern, hope and support for her situation.
“And finally, grandson, your grandpa went to visit an old friend for the last time as he was near death; I whispered ‘I love you my friend,’ gently rubbed his brow, and thanked him for the many good memories as he took his last breath.
“So ~ It is good to be kind grandson.
“For some say, ‘Kindness is the greatest wisdom’.”
