Kindness – The Effects Are Timeless
You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘Acts of kindness create a ripple effect that goes on forever,’ right? It’s true. And what about acts of UNkindness? Do they have lasting effects? You bet. But not for the one receiving the act of unkindness…more on that at the end of this story.
You’ve all heard the never-ending stories of my beloved Topper. The leopard appaloosa stallion that I grew up with. I don’t have the words to describe how special he was. How loved he was, how loved he still is. For the horse lovers out there, I can say that our bond was unbreakable and you’ll understand a little bit about how special he was. 🙂
Back in 1978 I was 17 years old and I was hospitalized for a few days. As it turns out, it wasn’t very major, but my illness required a few days stay in the hospital. Even though I was 17, I was on a children’s floor and most of the patients were quite younger than me. Each day, I was there, there was some kind of activity going on for the children. One day it was a local high school “cheer-em-up” group, another day a church group, etc. On one of the days, a woman in her mid-30’s came around. Her name was Jane Miller. She asked me if there was a picture that I wanted her to paint for me. Well, I immediately told her that I would like for her to paint a picture of my Topper. I told her that I didn’t have the picture with me, but Mother would bring it to the hospital the next day. And she did.
You see, we had this stream–really more like a ditch–that Topper always made a big deal of jumping. It wasn’t that big of a ditch, but whether it had water in it or not, he always reared and jumped it like he was a show jumper. One summer day I tried getting the perfect shot of him jumping it and I finally got it. That’s the picture I asked Mother to bring to the hospital.
This woman who I had never met, knew nothing of me or my Topper painted this beautiful painting for me.
Every time I look at it, I smile. And sometimes I cry. It so captures him in that moment. The barn in the background is so like my childhood barn. There is no monetary value I can place on the painting. It holds such a place in my heart and soul.
Jane Miller: You have no idea how your act of kindness has helped me for almost 40 years. You have no idea how your act of kindness warms my heart and affirms the ever-lasting effects of kindness. Wherever you are, thank you.
The other day, I was getting some shots of Hawk. And wouldn’t you know it? Same ditch, same jump from my little boy being a big boy. 🙂
And what about those acts of unkindness? Well, they have lasting effects too. But these lasting effects are for those committing the acts of unkindness, not for the ones receiving. It’s funny how kindness is 2-way and unkindness is 1-way. Acts of kindness are positive for the person giving and the person receiving. Unkindness is negative for the person giving. Kind people bless others, and, in doing so, bless themselves. Unkind people create negativity in their own lives and harden their heart and soul to life’s goodness.
Sometime, somewhere, someone is going to be unkind to you. Don’t spend any of your emotional or spiritual energy on it. Let it go. Unkind people will be dealt with. Choose to spread kindness everywhere you go. Who knows? You just might perform an act of kindness that is remembered 40 years later.
Blessings to you from
Charity & The Horse Mafia