Late this evening I was walking my brother home after we had visited for a bit. Part way along the path we came across someone curled up in the tunnel by the skatepark. They were still there when I returned home, and though I said hello, it was apparent that they were not having a very good day.
When I got home, I gathered up some snacks, water, and a blanket. I then walked back down the path intending to offer at least a token of hope that tomorrow might be better. What blew me away though, was that by the time I got back there again, three kids on skateboards and rollerblades had already brought this person food and drink, while their brother was on his way with a blanket. I would have to guess that these kids were probably around 14 years old, and yet they had gone out of their way to help a stranger.
It’s so easy to become jaded or cynical in this world, but these kids were actively helping to share a little bit of kindness and to offer hope to a stranger. That’s not something you see everyday, and it was certainly not something I expected to encounter. I was blown away by their actions, and sad though it may be, I don’t expect to see such kindness in the world. Sometimes kindness surprises you, and sometimes it rekindles hope for the future.
A great example of how important acts of kindness are to those receiving and to those witnessing the kindness. And a big shoutout to the teens who often get a bad rap.