A Mission of Kindness (08/06/2025)

Edward went to the post office one day where he happened to encounter an older gentleman using a walker. They struck up a conversation as they waited. The older gentleman commented about it being “a nice day” and shared that he remembered going fishing when he was younger on days just like that and wished he could that again.

Edward instantly offered to take the older gentleman fishing, if he’d like. Edward offered to pick him up and take him out for a few hours and see if they caught anything. The older gentleman accepted the invitation and gave Edward his address.

And Edward kept his promise. He went to the address, got his new acquaintance, and they went fishing. The older gentleman was thrilled that he caught three nice fish. He gave them to Edward and thanked Edward for the adventure.

A few weeks later, Edward thought of the older gentleman and decided to go check on him and see if he wanted to go fishing again. When Edward arrived where the older gentleman lived, he found a “For Sale” sign in the front of the house. No one answered the door. So, Edward spoke to the neighbors. He asked about the man who lived in the home and used a walker. None of the neighbors remembered a guy with walker living there.

Edward never saw the man again nor solved the mystery, but he remembered how good it felt that day making a new friend and helping another feel happy on a nice sunny day. Good things come from seeing another and listening with an open heart and mind.

Edward shared his story with his sister who eventually shared it with me. Don’t you love how God winks get passed on?

Edward’s experience can remind us all of the possibilities daily to make a difference in the lives of others through simple gestures of kindness. Our time is a gift from our LORD, it is only fitting that we “unwrap” some of it daily as a gift to another. The wonderful thing about it is that more often than not this gift given rewards the giver as well as receiver.

Sometimes I think we shrink away from doing “something” because we realize we can’t do everything. But the LORD doesn’t ask us to do everything. He asks us to do all we can. That’s not the same.

In the grand scheme of things today, everything is so large, the numbers soar, the consequences can be so high, it is understandable that we sometimes shrink back out of caution or even fear. But what if we began small? What if instead of trying to help every lonely person on the face of the earth, we tried today to reach out to just one? See just one and spend time with just one like Edward did?

As we go forward this day, let us do so with our eyes, minds, and hearts open to those whose paths intersect with ours. May our LORD, creator of us all, guide us on our way and help us recognize Him in others along our way.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.