Kindness - a truly wonderful thing

I want to write a small something about the amazing gift that is kindness. I think it is something we often take for granted. It is however something that enriches our lives on a daily basis. Perhaps we need to stop more and take note of the moments of kindness we encounter in our day. It could be a warm smile. Someone waving you on to bus in front of them even though they were there first (this is a big thing for non-bus uses!). An encouraging word just when you needed it. I was particularly grateful for a very simple act the other day of a new teacher at my school who was observing a lesson, bothering to come over to speak to the "humble" teaching assistant, just to be friendly. So small yet significant. I think this is where the wonderful aspect of kindness lies in fact. In its smallness. Smallness does not mean a lack of greatness. Mother Theresa said "we can do no great things, only small things with great love". Isn't this the type of greatness that matters? The things that show we love and care for the people around us. The things that show we can care enough to make those small sacrifices of time or pride or possibly even risk of rejection. It's in the little things we do for other people that we show we value them. We are saying they are worth it. And as the well known saying goes "it's the little things in life" that bring us the most pleasure. Amazingly God didn't just make mountains and oceans and even bigger than that, stars and planets. He made ladybirds and daisies and pearls. Wonderful details. Ok its true I do have an ever so slightly hippie take on life but I think this is an important message. Particularly as one of my aims in life is to help other women to know that they are beautiful. And one way I think we can know that is by valuing kindness and seeking to be kind people. Because as it says in Proverbs: 'A kindhearted woman gains respect'.

I wrote this before I went to see 'the Hobbit' so was amazed and warmed by the echo in Gandalf's words:

"Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found... I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay - small acts of kindness and love."