I went to the garage to pay the mechanic who fixed up my car for its MOT and Keiths car with something or other that needed doing. The mechanic is a christian. Young guy with a young family, hardworking and always really busy because he is totally reliable and doesnt charge what he could be charging for doing a good job. As I was writing a cheque he was asking how we were doing , especially mentioning Keith as he had always serviced Keiths Mums car and had been saddened to hear of her death in February.
I was chatting away telling him about whats going on with us and I happened to mention that Sam is going to Moldova with an Exodus team in July. Exodus is well known to church people round our way as it sends teams of school kids all over Europe and further afield on short mission trips over the summer. Kids get to go and work with orphanages or on building programmes or running summer schemes. If they go back year on year they work their way up into leadership of the teams. its a great experience and this year Sam is finally old enough to go. Part of the team preparation is a commitment to raise at least £200 to pay for resources which the teams take with them to bless host churches etc. I just mentioned in passing that Sam is going to have to start thinking hard about fundraising over the next few weeks. And Ray immediately put his hand in his pocket, pulled out a note and gave it to me saying ' Here, give him that to start him off'.
I was SO blessed. It was such a spontaneous act of generosity and kindness from someone who really doesnt know us very well but who is part of this big mad crazy family of God. He wanted to bless and encourage Sam in his mission trip - but he ended up blessing me too. And Keith when we got home and told him about it. It wasn't about the money ( although that was fabulous too), it was about the kindness. It blew me away . I shall be smiling for a week
I remember last year I was driving up the dual carriageway and I saw a lady broken down by the side of the road. She was on her phone standing by the car so I pulled over and asked if she was OK. She said that she was waiting for the towtruck to come because something horrible had gone wrong with the car and then she mentioned that she had been on her way to take her daughter to a piano exam in Dromore. The daughter was sitting in the car looking fed up. I asked what time the exam was and she said in half an hours time. I told the lady that I knew where the exam center was as my boys go there, that I was happy to take her daughter to the exam whilst she waited for the tow truck and that I would bring her back after the exam was done. The lady was delighted, the daughter was relieved. It took an hour out of my day but made a huge difference to them. We didnt even exchange names!! I was just there at the right time - as God clearly had arranged it - and was happy to help out.
Being helpful and kind can really really make a difference. As you will doubtless know if you have been on the receiving end of someones kindness. It doesnt need to be a big gesture. Sometimes its the smallest things which can be significant. That extra ten pence for the parking meter. The person letting you out of a tricky junction. The person with the huge trolley full of shopping letting you go in front of them in the queue. The lift offered to someone who is struggling with heavy bags in the pouring rain. Kindness oils the wheels of life and we could all do with more of it.Be kind to someone today.
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