Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Yesterday, my daughter and I had decided to play the role of Easter Bunny! We hopped from door to door in our neighborhood delivering rainbow-colored handmade cards accompanied by miniature baskets of assorted jellybeans.

We then thought of bringing Easter blessings to the local Senior Nursing Home community and thumped off there. As we rang the doorbell of the home and came over with our collection of cards and baskets, a few seniors scurried over in the lobby to greet us. They were like little kids. They patiently stood in a line beside us, asking us what were the different jellybean flavors and if they could keep the basket. My daughter and I chuckled together and as we handed our sweet treats to the first petite and smiling grandmother who came up to us and gripped our hands tightly and proceeded to hug us, suddenly a huge line appeared behind her of  grandmas, grandpas, great aunts, and uncles, whose faces lit up with smiles. 

In addition to the positive responses we received from our new old friends, I began to notice my own reaction. I seemed to shed a tear for each senior who came up to me. It appeared to me, as if many of these people with their canes and walkers seemed to carry not only their physical pain, but also the mental pain of many years with them as they walked over to us.

When we got home that night and retired from the 'rabbit' role, and squirmed into our comfy clothing, we just relaxed into a peaceful evening. All I could think of was how it wasn't just the jellybean that made these friendly elders smile, but the thought that someone cared to meet them with love, and we were honored to be the ones who could receive it.