My little prayer walk was not going as planned!
Thankfully, my host had given me waterproofs which protected me against the worst of the rain and so, I soldiered on, trying not to be distracted by the elements, and allowing myself instead to be lost in my thoughts.
As I write, I’m not sure why my thoughts turned to ‘kindness’, but I found myself on chewing over what it would look like to see new levels of kindness explode through my life, towards others.
Let’s be honest – being kind appears very difficult at times. Our human nature seems to lean more into digging for dirt on people, rather than mining for the gold. When someone disappoints or frustrates us, we jump into thinking the worst – rather than perhaps thinking the best, not jumping to conclusions, allowing compassion and empathy to whisper to us that everyone is a product of their life story – the good, the bad and the ugly bits.
And as I chewed on these thoughts I came to a bench. Too wet to sit on for sure, but I was drawn to its memorial plaque – ‘In memory of Violet Evelyn Bailey’.
Do you believe in coincidences OR dare you believe they are nudges from heaven?
Because underneath Violet’s name – as you can see in the photo – were words to describe her. Words about kindness.
The world would be a better place if people were more like Violet Evelyn Bailey (whoever she was) – for people wrote of her..
‘Kindness is given so softly, so gently, falling like tiny seeds along our paths and brightening them with flowers – A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen with smile.’
Be encouraged to today – to choose kindness. In the words of Proverbs 3:3…
“Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.”
