An Unlikely Delivery Crew

If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? . . . If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?

Matthew 5:46-47

It was Halloween, and my husband was making the trick-or-treating rounds in our cul-de-sac with our children. They were thrilled to dress up like Rainbow Dash and the Little Mermaid, and they wanted to keep ringing doorbells and getting candy. Deciding to venture out further into the neighborhood, they stopped by the home of some neighbors we’d never met. As our daughters tugged on Tim’s arms, anxious to go on to the next house for more candy, he chatted with the woman who answered the door. She told him about some health problems she’d been experiencing and how she was worried about some test results. He listened to her story, and after saying good-bye, he left her home resolved to pray for the woman and her health.

A couple of months later, as we were brainstorming ideas for acts of kindness we could do as a family during the month of December, he had the idea to check in on the neighbor and see how her health was doing. With a poinsettia in hand and our children once again in tow, he walked along snowy sidewalks to his destination. The girls rang the bell, but the door was answered this time by a man who looked a little harried and somewhat confused.

“Thanks,” he said abruptly, not allowing Tim to get a word in as he took the poinsettia from Tim’s arms and closed the door.

A bit stunned, Tim and the girls came home and related the story. “I think he thought I was a delivery man,” Tim said, bemused. “But why would I have brought children along?”

Shrugging a bit, we decided not to worry too much about it and went on with our day. Yet it was hard to explain this incident to our children. Why are we kind to people who don’t seem to notice or care? We reminded them (and ourselves, as well) that we are to show kindness to everyone, not just those who are kind in return. We asked them, “Didn’t we have fun picking out pretty flowers?” Yes, we did, they replied. “And wasn’t it fun to go for a short walk with Papa, out in the snow?” Yes, it was, they agreed. Even when things don’t turn out the way we expect them to, we can find ways to be thankful for the gift of giving itself.

—Kristin

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Give something without expecting anything in return.

From the book