Neighbor to Neighbor Woman Presents:
In this issue...
#4 Finding Values That Make Life Sweet
Ann's bark and butterfly

Simply and Beautifully  

Woman

 		#4
August, 2011,
Kindness

Greetings!   

 

Our daughter's "to be" father-in-law was so nice that we thought he couldn't be "for real". But twenty years later, John is just as real and kind as that first introduction. When ANYONE visits his dentist office, even if they forgot to dental floss for the last 6 months, he will manage to "find" something they did right! What a guy! What a relief! I sure like it when someone notices the good I do, even if they have to look hard for it! Kindness, the virtue.

This is not actually a real picture of John! 

 

Some of us aren't so fundamentally kind as John. Our personal make-up, our genes, our history, the time of our life, and the stress of our circumstances have a lot to do with this.  Our fundamental virtue might be something  very different.  But KINDNESS is such an inherent part of love and mercy, that it will be worth our time to take a deeper look.  

 

How would you define the virtue of kindness?   Do you have anything you want to add to this conversation? Any questions to ask? Any advice to give? Write back to me at ntnwoman@gmail.com

 

O Happy Virtue,

Sharon


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last night we had dinner at a reunion of sorts and sat with some people we didn't know well. There was a young man of 24 sitting next to us. When he left the table for a bit, his mother and Aunt told us his story. Kenny (not his real name) is bi-polar and schizophrenic. What a burden to carry! His mother told me how depressed she was when Kenny started to exhibit these traits when he turned 20. His Aunt told me about the nervous breakdown she had during this time. Sometimes she would have to hide in the bathroom to get away from his rage. They would have to convince him over and over that no one was out to get him.

 

 

This is not Kenny! 

 

Just recently his medicine was regulated so that he could function better. He can go over and play cards with his newly- widowed grandmother, he can now come to events like the reunion. Kenny 's road to kindness included medicine.

 

I saw the virtue of kindness in Kenny's Mom and Aunt.   It wasn't the same kindness as John's (the dentist), but similar qualities were there. The way they looked at Kenny with love and compassion, the way they hoped for the best, the way they treated him with such tenderness. Kenny tenderly kissed his mother goodbye when he left with other relatives at the end of the evening. Wow!     

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Ann's yello butterfly

 

What You Can Do

 

A Reason for looking at the Virtue of Kindness

 

 

 

  • I'll be writing on Thursday again about Kindness. Try to take some time this week to think about what kindness looks like in your life. Does it come naturally to you?   Is it really tough to be kind? Is your lack of kindness affecting any of your relationships? When do your actions seem more cruel than kind? Can you pin point your most vulnerable circumstances that topple all of your resolves? Have fun looking and analyzing. Sometimes we just settle into patterns that we don't even want. Taking a "Second Look" isn't "looking for trouble". It is looking for the purpose of bringing more goodness into our lives so that life is sweeter for ourselves and others. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.
  • Try to notice the kindness in those you live who probably never seem to measure up to what you think they should be like.Can you imitate John and look for the good and find the good and let them know how much you appreciate them....even if it is one single thing you notice?

  • I think of Jesus at the well. He told the Samaritan woman that he already knew that she had five husbands and that the man she was living with wasn't her husband. He didn't condemn her. He offered her something better.  When we look at the sin in our life, it isn't for the purpose of saying, "What a bad person I am", but to see what else we can bring to God to allow him to transform in us to make us whole. When we allow God to have his way with us, it is like Kenny finding the right medicine....we can be who we have always wanted to be.

 

 

 
Please join us at a Women's Breakfast August 27th at 9:30 A.M.

Topics: "Women's Health: Taking Care of Yourself" (speaker Dr. Cheryl Johnson), and "Adding Creativity to Your Life" (Brenda Mitchell). It will be held in the social hall at St Bernard/St Mary'sParish.

 

No charge for the event.

 

Free parking in the parking deck across from the hall entrance. Door prizes, and health information handouts!  

 

Bring a friend and enjoy an informative breakfast together with the women of Akron. Sponsored by St Bernard/St Mary's parish and Neighbor to Neighbor Woman.

 

Call Sharon Morris with any questions or with an RSVP.  (330-715-9613) Doors open at 9 A. M.  Please come on Saturday even if you aren't able to RSVP.  

 

ALSO, if you would like to bring muffins or fruit, just let us know with your RSVP.  THANKS.  Sharon