What is your act of kindness?

I was watching the news a few weeks ago and listened to a story about a man named Don Carter in Kansas who had gone into a Popeye restaurant after a hard day’s work to get his dinner. His young server though cordial, had begun telling him of her dissatisfaction with her life and job. He thoughtfully asked her why she did not go back to school. She replied that she had no funds to go to school. She would have wanted to go back and study to become a nursing assistant, yet her reality was different.

This got him thinking all the way home. He thought of an idea to get his friends on facebook to get involved by giving $5 each. The cost of attaining a CNA license was $1500. He felt they could do it and put this lady through college! And so he put the call out! To his surprise, the next morning he had raised $1,700. Then the story aired on the local Fox news. The amount jumped to $4,000. And now it stands at just under $15,000.

Now she can go to study and get her license. Now her prospects in life are changed forever. And why? Because of someone’s act of random kindness, thoughtfulness and care.

And so I challenge you today, whose life are you changing? Are you changing a life somewhere? You do not have to have all the answers to the problem, yet you can be the agent for the change like this man was. You can hear of a problem, and think of this question: ‘What can I do to help?’ That man could have simply forgotten about her, gotten into his car, eaten his chicken and gone about his day. But he did not. He kept seeing the young girl’s frustration; he had compassion for her, and felt there was something he could do. I love the fact that he felt it was not up to him, that he could bring a group around the problem – and some good could be done.

I encourage you not to think or be overwhelmed by the demands that would be placed on you when you choose to help others. Begin to think of how you can share the load; how you can involve others to step out of their own box and comfort zone, to pour of themselves into someone else’ life. I encourage you to think as though you live in a village, and the well-being of the village has something to do with you; it has something to do with your time, your money, your effort, your family.

And because of this thinking, you are able to rouse your friends, family members, colleagues – to make a change that is surely needed in someone else’ life. Yes, you do not know them; their well-being has nothing to do with you in the natural – but what a great thing kindness is. It is always done genuinely out of a good and willing heart, and truly that is what this world we live in needs to bring about a change. Kindness is a life breathing, hope giving; laugh birthing organism. You just have to give it to someone to see that smile dart across their forlorn face.

Well done, Don Carter!

Linda Faith

Linda faith is the Editor in Chief of Jewels Magazine. She has authored eight books. She is a prolific writer and powerful speaker, inspiring many women to be all God has called them to be. She is the founder of Joy Women’s conference which reaches out to empower, inspire and motivate women in their faith walk. She was a software developer before she started writing.