Kindness:the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
"he thanked them for their kindness and support"
Pittock Mansion
Often during the past few years I have thought what the world needs is more kindness. That is often on my mind as I walk through my everyday life. With that on my mind recently I had a dream. In the dream there were many people and much color. I don't remember exactly what was happening or the story, but the word "kindness" kept floating through the story. It was like kindness smoothed out the rough edges of what could be turmoil.
Mount Hood and Portland, the view from a bench.
The view behind the bench while sitting under a giant tree.
Waking up the word took on an ever larger presence as I focused on the color around me. I thought of the different colors of people's skin, the different colors that people choose to cover themselves, and the colors that people choose to surround themselves. It seemed that throughout the colors there was always kindness. Each person is different and makes choices that delight them. Our kindness is in accepting the varied colors that make life sparkle.
Then one of my friends sent me an email and asked me to join her for a picnic tea. Again I thought of kindness. What a treat to receive kindness from a friend. Now you might be saying, but what do the pictures have to do with kindness?
My friend, Stephanie, of Steph's Cup of Tea, and I met this morning under the big tree right there and shared a cup of tea. It was indeed a special moment of kindness, tea, and a few things to nibble too.
Stephanie had made a lavender tea bread, cucumber slices with sundried tomato spread, cheddar cheese with chutney sandwiches. I added some fruit. Stephanie was drinking a lovely Darjeeling tea and I drank Honey oolong. For my tea loving friends, they know I love having a picnic teatime; so this was truly a touch of kindness and much appreciated.
What kindnesses have you received recently?
Did they delight your soul?
Wouldn't the world be a better place with more touches of kindness?
