This week I experienced two instances of where I was trying to be kind – but my kindness returned to me in what felt like multiples, and I want to share with you.
A few weeks ago I mentioned my neighbor giving me tomato suckers when I had given up on being able to plant for this season because my own attempt had failed.
I woke up one morning and heard him attempting to clean off the siding of his house. He had done some bee exterminating and it had left a red residue on his white siding. I saw that he wasn’t making a dent, and knew I had a cleaning product that works magic. I ran to get it to share it – but he did a disappearing act and I ended up giving it to his wife. She reluctantly took it as she thought she already had what she needed to get the job done. I insisted that this product was way better.
A few minutes later, i went to look at the tomato plants that had been laden with tomatoes that they were leaning over and I didn’t have the right stick to keep them up. When I looked from my door, I saw that they were standing upright. Upon closer inspection, I saw a new metal pole, along with twine, holding my very heavy tomato plant in place.
This work has been done by my neighbor even before I tried to share my cleaning solution.
Just later that day, I made a pan of ziti. My friend that I go way back with, like over 25 years back, happens to live a few minutes from me. She had shown me kindness that had gone above and beyond – and I wanted to do something simple – to share the ziti I had made as I knew she would appreciate it. I called, told her I was stopping by for a few minutes – without even telling her why.
When I got there, I handed her the container, she was happy to receive it. I started walking around her yard, and looking at her garden. I believe her generous heart shows up in her garden. Everything that she planted was bursting forth – she told me to take some grape tomatoes as she couldn’t even keep up with picking and giving them away. I experienced sheer joy as I picked and she continued to pick to the point I had to carry some in my hands as the bowl was over filled. I also ended up with some authentic Jamaican peppers.
I went to be kind to her, and instead, she ended up being even more kind.
There’s a saying I learned years ago. ‘It’s impossible to give away kindness, it keeps coming back to you.’
I pray that as you continue, that you will give with a generous heart – it ALWAYS finds a way to come back to you.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for those around us who have generous hearts. Help us to give willingly, knowing that all we have belongs to you and we are called to be good stewards, which includes sharing with others. Help us to do so with a willing heart. You have told us that you love a cheerful giver, and you continue to prove that.
