I just saw what I can only call a Patriot.
We've had so many days of rain lately, it's starting to affect my state of mind. As humans, I do think, we need sunny days to keep the rainy blues at bay. Everyday, lately, I am coming up with something to do with the kids to make the day fun and enjoyable, as our time in the backyard is significantly decreased.
And so today, on our way home, in the middle of a downpour, in the middle of our subdivision, I saw a drenched man with no umbrella holding a rake. I said to the kids, can you see what he is doing in the rain? Then he proceeded to go up and down the street, using his rake to unclog the leaves from the gutters.
I was so impressed. Sometimes a small act of unknown charity on our part is exactly what God calls us to. He probably never thought some lady driving by would be so amazed by his simple act of kindness, but I did take that opportunity to explain to the van full of children, how beautiful even these little unseen acts truly are.
If we teach our kids, it's only good when someone sees us, then we are forgetting that God is the reason for our acts of kindness, not the human esteem from someone else. To teach authenticity, we must be able to maintain the small and big acts of charity, yes, in public, but more importantly in private. People who can manage charity in private, and humbly live authentic gospel love, shine so much brighter than those who need the admiration of others.
More often than not, those who do things, simply for the admiration of others, are obvious. They are the ones constantly looking for a compliment, and because of the obvious need for human esteem, they are rarely satisfied.
I doubt our good Samaritan this afternoon will call his friends, or send an email of his generous act. Thankfully, my kids came up with something we COULD do for him, as a reward for his good deed. We all said a collective 'Hail Mary' for him, thanked God for him, his small act done with great love, and prayed God would care for Him in the same delicate way he took care his neighbors.
And so in spite of the rain, and all my efforts to keep high spirits in our full home of seven, God decided to give us a gift in this man who lives down the street: a reminder that deep down man is good, and little acts of kindness never go unnoticed.
We've had so many days of rain lately, it's starting to affect my state of mind. As humans, I do think, we need sunny days to keep the rainy blues at bay. Everyday, lately, I am coming up with something to do with the kids to make the day fun and enjoyable, as our time in the backyard is significantly decreased.
And so today, on our way home, in the middle of a downpour, in the middle of our subdivision, I saw a drenched man with no umbrella holding a rake. I said to the kids, can you see what he is doing in the rain? Then he proceeded to go up and down the street, using his rake to unclog the leaves from the gutters.I was so impressed. Sometimes a small act of unknown charity on our part is exactly what God calls us to. He probably never thought some lady driving by would be so amazed by his simple act of kindness, but I did take that opportunity to explain to the van full of children, how beautiful even these little unseen acts truly are.
If we teach our kids, it's only good when someone sees us, then we are forgetting that God is the reason for our acts of kindness, not the human esteem from someone else. To teach authenticity, we must be able to maintain the small and big acts of charity, yes, in public, but more importantly in private. People who can manage charity in private, and humbly live authentic gospel love, shine so much brighter than those who need the admiration of others.
More often than not, those who do things, simply for the admiration of others, are obvious. They are the ones constantly looking for a compliment, and because of the obvious need for human esteem, they are rarely satisfied.
I doubt our good Samaritan this afternoon will call his friends, or send an email of his generous act. Thankfully, my kids came up with something we COULD do for him, as a reward for his good deed. We all said a collective 'Hail Mary' for him, thanked God for him, his small act done with great love, and prayed God would care for Him in the same delicate way he took care his neighbors.
And so in spite of the rain, and all my efforts to keep high spirits in our full home of seven, God decided to give us a gift in this man who lives down the street: a reminder that deep down man is good, and little acts of kindness never go unnoticed.
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