Small Acts of Kindness

     I was meditating the other night on our Lord's passion.  Not technically doing the Stations of the Cross, but going through them in my head.  I actually started with the Agony in the Garden.  It is incomprehensible what our Lord did for us.  He encountered more trials, tribulations, pain and suffering than we could ever imagine. 

     If you've seen the Passion of the Christ then you have some idea of what it must have been like to walk up to Golgotha.  The noise, the crowds of people pushing in on you, soldiers pushing you to move when you haven't the strength to even stand.  A man from Cyrene, Simon, is told to carry the cross for Jesus because His executioners want to make sure He dies on the cross and not on His way, but Simon does not want to carry it.  He does so only because he is forced to.  Hardly an act of kindness.

     How does He carry on?  How do any of us carry on when we are faced with our trials, tribulations, pain and suffering?  Hope.  If we can just continue on through our sufferings, things will get better.  Jesus knew things would get better once He died for our sins, the ultimate sacrifice.

     Oftentimes we think we are alone in all our sufferings and we can so easily fall into despair.  Despair is satan's work though, to keep us down.  We must always look for the light of God in all things, even in our sufferings.

     As Jesus is struggling along His path to Calvary, through the noise, the crowds and the continual harassment by the soldiers an amazing thing happens - Veronica.  Out of nowhere she appears and wipes the blood and sweat from his face.  How small this act is, but if you've ever had sweat or blood dripping into your eyes, you know it burns, so this would have given Jesus a little relief, made it easier for Him see.

     What small acts of kindness are done for you in your sufferings or times of need?  Does someone bring you a meal?  Send a card?  Visit?  Bring you your favorite tea for no apparent reason?  Give you a hug or a pat on the shoulder? 

     More importantly, what small acts do you do for others to relieve them of their sufferings?  Do you even think about what others might be going through and how you can help alleviate their pain?  Give them hope in their despair?

     A small act of kindness that may not mean anyhing to you or me, may mean the world to the person who received it.  A small act of kindness may tip the scales in favor of hope, instead of despair.

     Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”