This week’s joy comes wrapped in a paper lunch bag… along with a little fear and a lot of sadness.
I am part of a Facebook group called “365 days of Kindness”. The idea for this group came from my friend, Emily, who took it upon herself a few years ago to perform an act of kindness every day for a year. This year, wishing to spread the responsibility, she asked six friends to join her; each of us is assigned one day of the week to perform and write about an act of kindness.
On Monday, my assigned day, I decided to reach WAY out of my comfort zone. I packed a lunch.
Whenever I walk to our local shopping district, I almost always encounter a person standing on the corner holding up a cardboard “Anything Helps” sign. This time I thought that instead of ignoring them, I would pack them a lunch and take it down to them, which is exactly what I did. A sandwich, fruit, chips, cookie, and a bottle of water. I walked down to the village, and this time there was a young woman holding a homemade sign, which she had signed with her name at the bottom. Here is where the fear came in: I didn’t know if she would be grateful for the lunch, if she would be offended, or if she would reject me and my act of kindness. I handed her the bag, saying, “I packed this lunch for you.” To my relief, she was grateful. I touched her on the arm and said, “I am so sorry you are having such a hard time. I hope things get better for you, Dawn”. She thanked me for that too.
So, there was joy that I could help this woman in a small way. There had been fear that my actions would be rejected. And there was sorrow that we still have people standing on corners begging for their next meal.
Prayers for Dawn and all the others out there who don’t know where their next meal is coming from, or where they will sleep tonight.
Extra note of JOY for me: I’m going to sunny California next week! You’ll hear from me when I get back!