The Depths of Kindness

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34

Often we are so determined in helping others that our purpose gets misunderstood.

In the throes of packing mayhem, I sat down and composed an ad, much like the one I had created for gifting my garden late in the summer. 

Many late nights stacked up on me, much like the boxes I wrote numbers on, to keep track of. All along, I have been separating my belongings and my daughters into an area, which would have me, extend kindness to someone else who may need it. As I filled up one, two…six…fourteen boxes, before I closed each one up, I wrote a personal quote on the inside flap. This ensured when the recipient opened the boxes, there would be caring words to greet them. By day five, I was in awe of how freely I was giving things that I once clung to, as if they contained the essence of life. 

Since she was a young girl, my daughter collected Betty Boop. Shayla had amassed an impressive collection, with her BB jacket being one of the most revered. Over time, I chose to break the collection apart. Much like the fragmented person I once felt I was…the pieces of her Betty Boop eventually found new life elsewhere. In keeping only a select few, I know Shayla as a giver, would respect my decision to donate the rest. 

My daughter's toys waiting to be played with...

The ad was basic and stated I wanted to pay it forward to a single mother and her little girl. I mentioned since I did not have a truck, I could not transport the boxes and furniture to the intended receiver. I asked for 100 words or less as why the person would like the things I had to offer for free. Turning in for the night that had morphed into dawn, I went to bed and in my prayers asked to be lead to whoever was in need.

The next morning, before my cup of coffee was finished infusing its aroma into my suite, I checked my emails. I already had half a dozen messages.

Reaching for my coffee, I rubbed the sleep that felt like grains of sand from my eyes and I went into my prayer room. 

Back at my computer, I began reading personal messages from others who had read my original post. These emails were saturated in kind words which flowed from the fingertips of others. Here are a few, with no names to respect their privacy: How very kind of you. I hope you are able to select someone worthy of your generosity…Just wanting to tell you that what you're doing is awesome. That's all :)… Feel VERY PROUD OF YOURSELF for what you are doing to help someone else!... You are pure grace under fire. Well done for you and your daughter…I pray for Peace and Strength for you. May the right person/people come along. Blessings!

To go from folding my hands in prayer for someone I have never met to having hope rise up like the morning sun, filled me with joy! I was carried out of the darkness and into the light upon those who saw the purpose of what I had intended, all along.

As I began to pack more of my life up and Shayla’s things; the emails continued to fill my inbox. The next day, I was taking time out to just breathe, at a special place I go to by the sea. 

 Source:Priscilla Shirer, Gideon Series

I pulled out my phone and re-read the email I had received. It was from a single mother, who was widowed and had a little girl. Something in my heart knew that this was the person I had been waiting to hear from. As the pounding surf covered the pebbled beach, I smiled, as I felt Shayla’s approval from the heaven’s above. 

Travelling back to my suite, more messages were coming through. This time, I received two separate offers of help, if needed, by two gentlemen who had trucks. They would pick up the stuff I had and take it to whoever I had chosen to receive all I had to give. One of the men recalled how his mother raised him single handily and he wanted to assist in any way possible.

Once back home, I looked at the other places I was giving to; a variety of non-profit organizations, including Bibles For A Mission. I thought it was in fairness to distribute everything, as there are so many in need. In donating items, I have met many incredible, compassionate volunteers who give freely of their time and efforts. 

In my suite, as I sat down in what is chaos, tears began to fall. Here I was with no home to move into myself and I was giving my life away…piece by piece. Yet, I was not lamenting, rather rejoicing. With every box I poured my love into, my own weight was being lifted by my Creator. I was no longer being held back, bound to things. I looked onto my bare walls. There was one paper taped above my computer. It was a short passage that conveyed so much of what I was feeling:

At a memorial service for my friend’s dad, someone said to her, “Until I met your father, I didn’t know a person could have fun while helping others.” Her dad contributed his part in helping build the kingdom through serving people, laughing and loving, meeting strangers who became friends. When he died, he left a legacy of love. In contrast, my friend’s aunt viewed her possessions as her legacy, spending the latter years worrying about who would protect her heirlooms and rare books. ~ ODB 

I decided to call the lady who had messaged me earlier, after we had swapped more information through our emails. From the moment we exchanged hello’s, we engaged in conversation. I began to hear more about her journey and also about her daughter.

Something struck me about this woman. Despite the loss of her husband, she was determined to overcome the struggles she had been enduring and wanted to help others in the process. She asked if there were any other single mothers who could use the stuff I was offering, which showed me her caring heart. Then when speaking of the things being given to her, she remarked: “It will be like Christmas came early.”

The words resonated within me by the grace in her sharing.

In the end, we worked out the details; with one of the men who offered to help delivering it all to the woman’s residence. 

I reached back out to the woman and asked if it was okay to mention our interaction in my blog, which she was happy to grant me permission. I respect the privacy of others, so I have not included their names.

It was important for me to meet her and her daughter; therefore I am driving to her place on the weekend, when the boxes will be dropped off. 

As we spoke once again, she thanked me, letting me know her plans would be to pay it forward to others.  If there were things she didn’t need, then she would donate them to someone else. Another thing she shared brought me contentment…the woman wondered if it was okay to stay in contact, every so often letting me know how they were doing.

It was the full circle of giving that made this all worthwhile and the beauty of generosity unfolded in ways, I could not have foreseen.  

     ~ What we value reveals the state of our heart

By TL Alton