I want to focus on that wonderful
Concept that vital virtue
That unfortunately and regrettably is often forgotten
The virtue of kindness being kind
I want you to hear a story
20 years ago I drove a cab for a living when I arrived at 2:30 in the morning
The building was dark except for a single light in a ground-floor window under these circumstances
Many cab drivers would just honk once or twice wait a minute then drive away
But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation to drive away
Unless the situation smelled of danger. I always went to the door
So I walked to the door and knocked, just a moment
Answered a frail elderly voice
After a long pause the door opened a small woman in her 80s stood before me
By her side was a small nylon suitcase
Would you carry that this bag out to the car for me
She said I took the suitcase out and returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and walked slowly toward the curb
She kept thanking me for my kindness
It's nothing I told her I just try to treat all my passengers the way I would want my mother treated
When we got in the cab she gave me an address then she said oh by the way, could you drive through downtown?
It's not the shortest way, oh I don't mind I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice
I looked in the rear-view mirror and her eyes were glistening.
I don't have any family left she said
Almost to herself
The doctor says I don't have very long.
I quietly reached over shut off the meter
What route would you like me to take
For the next two hours, we drove all around the city
She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds
She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl
Sometimes she had asked me to slow down in front of a particular building or corner. She would sit staring into the darkness
Saying nothing
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon she suddenly said
Okay, I'm ready let's go now
We drove in silence to the address she had given me
It was a low building two orderlies
Came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up they were solicitous and intent
Watching her every move. They were expecting her. I opened the trunk took out the small suitcase
Carried it to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. How much do I owe you she asked?
No, you don't owe me anything I said, oh you have to make a living she answered their other passengers I responded
Almost without thinking I
bent over and gave her a hug
She held on to me tightly
You gave an old woman a little bit of joy she said
Thank you
I squeezed her hand and walked into the dim morning light
Behind me a door shut
It was the sound of the closing of a life
I drove aimlessly lost in thought for the rest of the day. I could hardly talk
What if that woman had gotten in and an angry driver earlier that morning
Our one who was impatient
What if I had refused to take the run or at hawked once and driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think I have done anything more important
In all my life
I love that story
Sort of helps me allow life to make up its mind again
You need to remember that story
The times you will want to be anything but kind
Because it is so much easier
To bear a grudge and hate in return or get back
or get even
Hate destroys the vessel it's kept in
Revenge never healed a wound
There's one thing all of us have in common we've been mistreated by somebody
Some of you have known abuse
Misunderstanding and all of this has a way of siphoning your tank of kindness
It can make you hard and you can get on with hard you can get along with it
Fact some will even respect you more because you're tough
But I urge you not to be, be kind
Tender-hearted
Forgiving one another
When I'm truly free of revenge and bitterness
There is plenty of room in my heart left for kindness
And not until
Do what's right do justice
Love kindness walk humbly with your God
Maybe you were born a really nice person with a gentle sweet personality
Being kind to people comes pretty naturally to you, but I think more of the globe is not that way
Than is and the good news is is we can change
It's amazing what one kind word can do we don't think anything about it
But to the other person it breathes life into their spirit
Our words have the power to lift people to help them get through a challenge to push them into their destinies
When you tell someone I love you, I'm proud of you, you did great on that project
You're not just being kind those are healing words
We don't know what people are going through they may smile on the outside but on the inside
They're hurting. They're lonely. They're discouraged. Many people have wounds from the past
Wounds from a relationship that didn't work out
Wounds from people trying to push them down
Just a simple word of encouragement. I believe in you
I'm praying for you a simple compliment. You look beautiful today
It's no big deal to you. But to them it's helping heal the wounds. It's lifting their spirits
It's causing them to believe in themselves
Your words can be what keeps them moving
forward and God puts people in our lives on purpose so we can bring healing
Letting people know that you care does more than you imagine
You have the power to put someone on their feet. You have the power to keep them from falling into depression
You have the power to cause them to pursue their dreams
Be free with your compliments
You can think well of your friend all day long, but if you never tell them they'll never know
God wouldn't have brought it up if he didn't want you to tell them
He wouldn't have put that thought in you if the other person didn't need it
You may not know them. It may not make sense to you, but God knows what he's doing
There's a reason they need your healing
Don't withhold it
Don't try to reason it out. In my early 20s a young man started coming up to the gym to play basketball with us
He was a loner. He was very unfriendly
Very cold. He never talked even during the games. He wouldn't interact with us
Most of the guys just ignored him but something down in here told me to reach out to him and make him feel
welcome, I found out that his name was Bo
When he would come into the gym, I would go over and say hey Bo. It's great to see you today
He never said anything
He just hit his chest twice and walked away. I didn't know what that meant. But I hit my chest twice and walked away
This went on for several years. I saw him four or five times a week
Well, I stopped playing basketball there and I hadn't seen beau in over 20 years
One Sunday, he showed up at church. I saw him afterwards. I thought where do I know this guy from?
He said I'm Bo. We used to play basketball together. That's the most I've ever heard him talk
He went on to tell how he grew up in the projects
At 14 he started living on his own
Nobody wanted him. He never felt loved or accepted
He said one of the main reasons I went up to the gym was to hear you say great to see you today
Because nobody had told me that they were glad to see me those simple words
Letting him know that I cared were like life-giving water
Today Bo is married. He introduced me to his children. He's setting a new standard for his family. What am I saying?
Nobody is in your life by accident
Don't ignore what you feel on the inside
That compassion to encourage them that desire to be their friend
Take time to make them feel loved
Doesn't have to be something big just good to see you. I believe in you I'm praying for you
Just let them know that you care