Motivated towards Kindness - Jan 8th, 2024

Last week while leaving from picking up pizza for supper for my family I noticed this photo in the window:

I was truly taken aback by the gesture placed on display by strangers to help people in my community. Poverty hits people more than we know and that people would be willing to give out of their own pockets to feed people stopped me in my tracks. I thought a lot about the giver of the gift and the recipient too and how the willingness to help not only helps the one in need but potentially the one providing this annonomous kindness too. I also thought about how this wasn't announced on someone's social media channel ("Hey guys...just out here at Mamma's Pizza letting insert deity here use me to help other people! Hit subscribe to see how this ends!!!") but instead just live out of someone budget and in someone's stomach.

As I sit here in this cafe working, I imagine that there are NUMEROUS opportunities for kindness around me - from a coffee, to a kind wave and quick conversation, to a longer talk filled with listening and understanding, to even financial - and it's important that I notice those promptings to "do something" for someone else. And make myself available for someone to help me too (I'll take a Tesla or new Nike Dunks...KIDDING!!!!) as none of us have EVERYTHING we need, if that makes sense.

This week, as the happy new year just becomes Monday the 8th of January, let's be looking for ways we can care for others. May we populate windows with meals, lessons, words of care - acts of kindness - that lift others out of painful pits of despair. Your 'pizza' might save someone life and give them a reason to keep it moving forward!