I woke this morning at seven, with Miss Callie at the foot of my bed; entwined around my legs as I
slid out of bed and went to turn on the coffee.
As I reached the hallway, and the sight of the southern windows, I saw my own small view of the street and the valley and the sky and the mountain suffused in the most beautiful rosy glow, - the very air seemed to vibrate with it. Oh my, - still in my nightgown, camera and I opened the front door and discreetly took a quick snap of all the wires and electric paraphenalia silouetted against the glowing sky, and then we went to the back garden, which is more private, and in my bare feet I ventured across the dew-wet lawn and stood in such great appreciation of the gorgeous gifts that are suddenly bestowed upon us, if we are aware and awake to see them - thankful that I had not
lingered in bed any longer.
What elements are required to be combined to create such magical beauty, through the whole valley, - and which angel has charge of the operation????
Before I came in the sky had begun to fade and the moment of enchantment had passed, so I continued with a quick shower and breakfast. still marveling........
I sat with my second cup of coffee, reading a chapter of Jan Karon's latest book about Father Timothy, the Episcopalian priest who has been the hero of her last eight books about the town of Mitford and all its residents.
I love her books - on a par I would say with Alexander McCall Smith. I was first introduced to them by a dear friend who is now in a Care Facility, unhappy, blind, confused, - and I thought how much she would enjoy this latest novel, and I wondered if she would be up to a reading visit where we could enjoy the book together. Growing old is not accomplished without some sadness and sorrow, a lot of inconvenience, but I find that the smallest acts of kindness can lend the greatest joy even to one day, and so I will follow up on this.
I went to a Museum meeting the other night where a visiting speaker from Penticton handed out Random Acts of Kindness cards to share with friends or strangers, along, of course, with said random act of kindness. It was featured on the news last night - participants giving apples to people passing by, - some responding with a smile, some with a nod, some with a 'no thanks' . I think one must go a little deeper when considering random acts of kindness, and hopefully a little practice would make them an unconscious part of our lives, where civility and mindfulness are returned to our communities, and kindness to others is just part of our daily life, replacing the 'me' culture that one quite occasionally finds flourishing.
It occurs to me that this might more easily be accomplished when one leads a more solitary life than when one is embroiled in family and the great busyness that entails, but no, - I think some more about it and remember the last of the Mr. Lincoln roses from my old garden that my granddaughter
brought to me, to enjoy, and how much I appreciated this dear and spontaneous act of kindness on her part - it is a sweetness and a generosity that everyone has room for - the small things
that make another's life lighter and brighter.
Lovely thing to cultivate in a family.....
Do any of our children remember the Advent tradition we had in days of yore
where, when the Advent candle was lit at Sunday dinner they also picked from a bowl
the name of another family member for whom each day they were to do, anonymously,
something kind???? Answer requested....
