Loss often puts life in perspective and makes your lens clearer. I recently lost my uncle. He's an uncle I grew up with like a brother or a cousin because he was only two years older than me. Life, family, the years kept us from seeing each other much but I always loved him, thought of him and prayed for his family.
He was always kind. That was the first thing I thought of when I heard the news. No matter what his circumstances were, what battles he was fighting; he was kind. He always wanted to know how I was doing and asked about my boys. His words were genuine and sincere.
The Jewel song "Hands" keeps playing over and over again in my head.
If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
It goes on but the verse that sticks out is
- In the end only kindness matters
Mother Teresa once said.
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
She also said:
Life is truly simple, it boils down to choices. Kindness is a choice.
Joe chose kindness and that is how I choose to remember him- a kind
soul. Choosing kindness is not always easy but it is always the right thing to do. Thank you Uncle Joe for one final lesson. I plan to choose kindness today and every day. When I falter, as I know I will, I will think of you. We are all in this together and only kindness matters....
Grace and Peace,
Misty
