Yesterday we knew without a doubt who we wanted to be kind to, my niece. Today we woke up without a clue. So, we decided we would, how do you say it, play it by ear? Simply put, we would be kind when we saw a need in front of us.
The vast majority of today Cody & Ellie's friends were in and out. Oh, I'm not complaining when then are all at my house I know where they are at. Well, after the last friend left for the afternoon, anyway, a trip to Kroger was in order. We jumped in our car and away we went before more company could arrive. I needed the store more at this moment than they needed social interaction with their friends.
Kroger, my dear friend, I'm back. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. As soon as we walked in the door, a mother was trying to get her young child out of the shopping cart..however, she wasn't having any luck...the cart kept moving around on her. Ellie could tell she was struggling and very simply went over and put her hand on the cart and kept it from moving. This kind gesture allowed the mom to get her child out of the cart without any problems. You know, I didn't tell Ellie to go do this she merely saw an opportunity to be kind and she was there. When this lady was leaving she thanked Ellie again and all she could do was smile from ear to ear and say, "you are welcome."
When I haven't been to Kroger in some time I feel like I need to cruise up and down the aisle to make sure they haven't brought something in I didn't know about. As I'm typing this I'm cracking up...it is almost like I'm territorial..I don't want anything moved or new at my Kroger..I want it to always stay the same. So, when I haven't been there in awhile I waste a considerable amount of time making sure everything is "the same". Funny, I know.
Well, while I was on patrol up and down the aisle a lady was reaching for a boxed item on the top shelf. In the process of her reaching she knocked several items over. Cody, to the rescue like he was a Super Hero. He and Ellie had been walking right beside of me but when he saw this happen he went over to her and said, "I've got this for you." He bent down and picked them up and placed them on the shelf in the proper place. This lady was stunned that a young man stopped to help her. She told me I was raising a nice young man and I should be proud. She thanked Cody twice. He was smiling all over himself! Once we moved far enough away so she wouldn't hear I asked him why he was smiling. I knew but wanted to hear it from him. he said, "because it just felt good to help her when she needed it...she wasn't expecting it at all." You can guarantee, my heart was smiling big time as this was the second time in a matter of minutes at one location that my children went out of there way to be kind without me saying one word.
To round out our trip to Kroger I let someone go in front of me in the check out line. You know, as I stood in line to heck out I couldn't help but reflect on what Cody & Ellie had done. I kept thinking of our actions in the past, prior to the kindness journey. I wondered whether we would have been to busy to see the young mother struggling with the shopping cart? How about the lady who knocked over the boxes would we have seen that? Okay, maybe we would have seen it with out eyes but would we have seen it with our heart? To me, that is what kindness is you act from your heart. To be honest, I don't think we would have helped either one of them before this kindness journey.
Thank you God for opening our eyes & our heart which allows us to see opportunities where we can be kind. Thank you God for this kindness journey. Thank you God for the precious people at Kroger who have now forever touched my heart. I'm beginning to notice a pattern, some of my biggest blessings in this kindness journey hasn't been on days we planned in advance (even though they bless my heart as well) but it is the acts of kindness opportunities we happen upon that knock my socks off.
God you amaze me!! Each and every time I see the kids moved to be kind without prompting from me makes me emotional. God, thank you for such amazing children.
Where will we be next? Stay tuned. Until then....
On your mark, get set, be kind.
Love you to the moon & back,
Annie, Elliott, Cody & Miss Ellie
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