The sky is beautifully blue today filled with mackerel scale clouds bleached Clorox white on their crowns by the sun’s rays. The clouds are moving quickly across the sky taking the dark blueness of the sky with them, leaving the sky cloudless and a lighter blue. The yard is full of birds happily performing symphonies of thanks on this Sunday morning. “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it,” Psalm 118:24. Another glorious day in my little piece of paradise.

Walking Penelope in the late afternoon I see the sun, burning bright and white, filtering its rays through the trees in my neighborhood, kissing the red berries on the tall holly trees, making them shine. Made me think of Rudolph’s nose. Mother Nature is just beginning to paint her sunset pageant, color washing the horizon a pale peach with her watercolors. So beautiful! Didn’t buy a ticket to the sunset pageant so I’m imagining a pageant with the sun and Father Sky walking down the horizon, dressed impeccably in their formal wear, dragging the day’s light down with them and waking the night.

Been reading quotes this afternoon. This quote is from a book titled 365 Best Inspirational Quotes for Daily Motivation. “Too often, we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening, ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around,” Leo Buscaglia. Doesn’t take much effort to have a significant positive impact on someone with a small act of kindness. I think a genuine smile is a gift and when the smile is full of God’s love it’s priceless.

There’s a lot of misery and loneliness in this world and the holidays are depressing for those without family. We can lift the darkness from someone’s life and help them be optimistic about tomorrow. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Biblical scripture says kindness is a gift from God and a fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”

When we place others needs before our own we are being obedient to God’s commandments. Kindness is an expression of goodness and goodness is a quality we develop through our relationship with God. Jesus healed the sick and fed the hungry. We can help those in need with our love and compassion. Theologian James Bryan Smith defines goodness as “that which works for the benefit or betterment of another. That which is good makes us better, heals us, restores us, improves us, strengthens us and makes us right.”

Being kind to others improves our own well being. Never underestimate the power of kindness. A kind gesture can change someone’s world. Moments of genuine kindness can have a ripple effect making the world a happier place.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” — Aesop