Sharing the Warmth

 

Fall is upon us! I absolutely love fall. On our way to the beach we pass a U-pick pumpkin patch. The orange against the green is one of my favorite color combinations. And don’t get me started on sun flowers, they always make me smile. We’ve already had a couple of storms, which around here bring wind and rain. I’m not a big fan of wind. I don’t mind that they bring down the leaves, although a friend pointed out this week that the wind always seems to come “just when the colors are coming out”. I do mind when the wind knocks down branches (and sometimes trees) and the power going out. I’ve talked about my dislike of that before.

We spent today pruning branches, raking leaves and cleaning up debris from our recent storm. It felt good to be outdoors on a crisp, sunny fall day. I wore myself out, but the sense of accomplishment is great.

I like the nesting feel of fall. Everyone sort of cuddles into the warmth of their home – fires in the fireplace, scented candles, a good book, left over Halloween candy.  The sense of security can come with having a place to tuck into. I, like many of us, take all of this for granted.

This week driving to the grocery store there was a family sitting on a street corner. The mother had a young child on her lap, two other children were beside her. The father had a sign asking for help – any help.  Obviously they don’t have a place to nest that is warm and safe. I can’t imagine. To make it worse, I didn't do anything but drive by.

There are a lot of people fearful of how they will make it through today, let alone tomorrow. The economy is scary. Thousands are without work. With our current government shutdown, even people with jobs are not getting paid and don’t know what they are going to do about rent and food and other bills. The shutdown also affects people like the family on the street corner, cutting off SNAP aide to the many who depend upon it for food.

When we were first married, my husband was laid off. He was without work for many months before finding a job, followed finally, a few months later, by being rehired by his original company. My job at the church didn’t pay a lot, and after we’d paid the rent, not a lot was left. Unemployment helps, but not a lot.  A friend found my husband a seasonal job working for Nordstrom in the fragrance section. Did that make you smile? It did me, but the women behind the counters were so happy to have my husband to refill their products and carry the heavy loads from the stockroom to their counters. The job ended just before Christmas. Those women packed Steve up with a couple huge Nordstrom shopping bags. There were all sorts of sample items, promotional gifts and the like. What a gift! We wrapped up most of the items and gave them as Christmas presents to our family. Their kindness has never been forgotten.

Random acts of kindness are a great gift to give, especially during this time of year. Whether it’s giving the family on the street corner money or food or an old coat, or letting the person behind you in line at the store step in front of you or paying for their coffee, or raking a neighbor’s leaves – looking for ways to ease someone’s burden is a terrific gift. Any time we can find a way to give back is special. Giving our time, sharing a meal, there are just so many ways we can make a difference in an otherwise dark world.

And kindness doesn’t have to cost anything. We can just be kind to everyone we encounter. Sometimes that is a rarity in our stressful world. It doesn’t cost much to say hello, ask how the cashier is doing, write a text of encouragement, send an email to someone you haven’t spoken with in a while. Sometimes even just smiling is an act of kindness. I smiled at someone in the grocery store, and she stopped, commented on my smile and thanked me for sharing it! We just never know.

I’ve obviously been thinking a lot about what I should be doing. I wish I'd known what was best to have done for that family. Probably it’s time to stop thinking and just get doing. Happy Fall!