The Value of Small Acts of Kindness

I was very fond of one of the ladies in this little community. Well, maybe more than one, but this one was pretty special in my view. I viewed her as a lady who carried out a daily ministry of small kindnesses.

She was born and raised in the community, worked away for a time and was living her final years in the house she was raised in. She never married. I learned she had once been deeply in love with a guy she wanted to marry and her father forbid the marriage.

Heartbreak like that could have worked on the heart of a lessor person and closed it. Yet she was a kind sweet soul. She would quietly observe those around her, listen to what they would say and when an opportunity would present itself, she’d quietly carry out an act of kindness.

It was simple things.

If there was a message in the church bulletin she thought would cheer someone’s day, she’d drop it at their door.

If she spotted an article in the paper someone would be interested in, she’d clip it and either drop it to them or drop it in the mail.

If a smile and kind word was needed, she’d be there to quietly do so.

If someone needed a direction to a resource to make their life easier, she’d gently place in front of them without comment or judgement.

On occasion I had opportunity to observe her as she would walk down the main street in the village. You’d see a wave to someone on one side of the street, a nod and smile to another, she stop and have a few words with another. Everyone who walked away from an encounter with her had a smile on their face. It was awesome to watch.

I loved watching her in action. Her quiet, gentle, unassuming dignity gave no one offense.

When I read this quote of James Mann, she came to mind. She lived life like she wanted to make a difference in anothers life and knew she could without grand, loud gestures.

She taught me a lot about the value in small acts of kindness that come from the heart.

Over the years we had many conversations, shared many laughs and covered many miles when she would join me for a ‘road trip’. She’s passed now, but not from my memory. She’s left an indelible mark there.

Shadowspub is a writer from Ontario, Canada. She writes on a variety of subjects as she pursues her passion for learning. She also writes on other platforms and enjoys creating books you use like journals, notebooks, coloring books etc.

Would you like to receive writing prompts regularly?

You can subscribe to Prompt A Day to get started.

Share your posts

• join us on the DreemPort Discord for PYPT
• Join DreemPort and take part by following