For a person in need of solace or comfort, it doesn’t take much to help out. All that it takes is a little gesture, a little kindness & it will go a long way. Here’s a little story to illustrate the point . . .

The park bench was deserted as she sat down to read beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, for the world was intent on dragging her down. And if that weren’t enough to ruin her day, A young boy out of breath approached her, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down and said with great excitement, “Look what I found!” In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, with it’s petals all worn, not enough rain, or to little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, she faked a small smile and then shifted away. But instead of retreating he sat next to her side and placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise, “It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too. That’s why I picked it; here it’s for you.” The weed before her was dying or dead. Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red. But she knew she must take it, or he might never leave. So she reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need.” But instead of him placing the flower in her hand, he held it mid-air without reason or plan. It was then that she noticed for the very first time that weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind. She heard her voice quiver, tears shone like the sun as she thanked him for picking the very best one. You’re welcome, he smiled, and then ran off to play, unaware of the impact he’d had on her day. She sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of her self-indulged plight/ Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight. Through the eyes of a blind child, at last she could see the problem was not with the world; the problem was her. And for all of those times she herself had been blind, she vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that’s mine. And then she held that wilted flower up to her nose and breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose. And smiled as she watched that young boy, another weed in his hand about to change the life of an unsuspecting old man further down the path on his own park bench.

Yes, a little kindness . . . a great impact of goodness

A soothing word, a gentle hand

A listening heart & patience spent

Will calm the roar in the end.