“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience”. – Colossians 3:12
My Mom’s parents lived in Kentucky and we usually only saw them once a year, but we enjoyed every minute of our time with them. Grandma loved making clothes for my dolls. Just as I was beginning kindergarten, a surprise package arrived for me. Inside the box were five school dresses that my Grandma had made just for me. I took them to my room and laid them out on my bed to admire. Her gift made me feel special beyond words and I was overwhelmed with her kindness. To have a new dress for every day of the week was more than I could have imagined.
Years later my Grandma moved in with us and actually lived in my parent’s home far longer than I did. She was a young widow with very little income, but she was always pleasant, generous with her time and attention. We lived in Houston when our children were young and I found great joy in watching the way Grandma loved our children. She had a sweet gentle spirit and undying love for these little ones, no matter what they did.
Grandma’s room was a fun place to hang out. She waited for Kelly and Paul to come over and always had a dresser drawer full of treats. There was a rocking chair and TV in her room next to a window, where she spent countless hours watching TV, working crossword puzzles, crocheting, and watching for birds, especially her favorite, cardinals. They fondly remember watching TV with her and would giggle in the car on the way home as they told us that they watched “The Wheel of Fortune” and “Price is Right”…in Spanish! Grandma didn’t know and they would never have told her! They were quite the threesome!
Grandma would ask Kelly and Paul, “You got a pocket?” When they nodded yes, she’d slip a dollar bill into their pocket. As they caught on to her routine, Paul would remind Kelly to “wear a pocket” when they went to see Grandma. Sometimes the bill she slipped into their pocket was worth far more than a dollar. As they realized the denominations of the bills were getting larger, they knew she couldn’t afford to do that, so they would secretly slip the bills back into her “pocketbook.” The ritual between the three was so special to them that they didn’t want to give it up, so by extending kindness back to Grandma, they were able to receive her love in the way in which she intended, over and over again.
I loved the sweet dance between my children and their great-grandmother. Watching my children with Grandma taught me so much about life. Her wealth came in the form of life’s lessons, and kindness was always at the forefront. I am grateful for her presence in our lives.
In this year of The Kindness Project at St Luke’s, I encourage you to take the time to “be” in relationship with others rather than falling into the pattern of doing just enough to get by. Countless blessings will abound when you give of your best out of kindness. Keep your eyes open to the needs of others and I predict that God will richly bless your heart along the way!
Marsha Long, Director of Hospitality Ministry
