Small Kindnesses…

• Matthew 10:42 (NKJV) And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward. 

The day of my father-in-law’s funeral and burial was a sad, sad day.

However, I’ll never forget the drive back home after the funeral.  My wife and I were in the “family car” that the funeral home had provided along with my mother-in-law and others.  Slowly the driver began to make his way back to my mother-in-law’s home.  Like the driver, the conversation was slow and sad.

As we made our way back I noticed that the driver was driving down country lanes that I had never been on.  At first I thought he was unfamiliar with the way back and had gotten lost.  But after awhile I realized what he was doing; he was allowing us time to gather our emotions and “decompress” from the emotion-pack events of the last few hours.

It worked.  As we drove down those lovely country lanes everyone began to relax.  The conversation also relaxed.  Ruby, my mother-in-law, began pointing out places and the pleasant memories attached to them; many that included her husband.  Soon we were talking about the good times and the good memories and through our hearts were sad it was not in a depressing or hopeless way.

I’ll never forget that slow ride back to my in-law’s home or the small kindness of that driver.  His thoughtfulness turned the tide that day and we’ll be forever indebted to him.

May his tribe increase…thank God for small kindnesses and those who are thoughtful enough to make them happen…and may God help you and me to be a member of the “small kindness” tribe.

Love is kind.

(1 Corinthians 13:4)