Being Kind

     Yesterday I watched a man who uses a walker reach over and button the sweater of a man who was sitting in a wheelchair. It struck me as being very tender, but I know most men wouldn't want to be thought of as being "tender" to another male, so I'll use the word "kind". It was most definitely a kind act.
          
     This morning as I thought about watching that yesterday, I recalled another kind act from an almost-three year old toward a two month old. Older child wanted to show younger child a toy which was a water-filled tube with plastic fish in it and his mother wanted him to be safe around the younger child. He moved the tube away from the child, but still talked to her. He asked her if she liked toys. I loved watching him be kind and thoughtful towards his younger cousin. He wanted to share his toy, but he knew to be kind about it and move it away in case she reached out and it crashed down on her.

      Another day, his sister spread out her favorite blanket and told her Uncle he could put the baby down as he brought his baby daughter over to his sister's house to spend the day. Uncle looked at niece knowing how much she loves her blanket and asked, "Where?" Four-year old pointed to the middle and as she smoothed out her blanket, Uncle knew this was a kind act and one of selfless love.

     Kindness looks a lot like love, as a matter of fact. As kindness is spread, so is love. May we keep it going.