One example stands out to me and both acts of kindness are related. During a "Dark night of the soul" situation in my life I turned outward and began caregiving the elderly and disadvantaged in my community. I began visiting a lonely, elderly lady, bringing home -cooked food and stopping to chat. Many times I was the only person to darken her door all week. Financially she was fine, but her health was failing and the loneliness didn't help. After a fall and several operations she ended up in rehab and eventually stopped eating. I took it upon myself to call her distant, estranged, only child and explained the situation. Both he and she agreed that she needed to come home or soon it would be too late. They asked me to move in and be her caregiver. At that point I was renting a room from a friend, so gladly agreed. Once home she rebounded and lived on another four years. My friends became her friends. I didn't have a car. She sold me hers for one dollar. Her life once again had love, friends, and meaning. That was six years ago. She passed on peacefully last June in her own bed with me by her side. I saw her spirit as it left her body. A beautiful transition indeed. As I write this, I'm still in that house! You see, she changed her trust, leaving the house to me! Staying with her helped me get financially on my feet again. That's how I was able to afford the Transformation Weekend in Orlando. Coincidences? Luck? Kindness and love. It expands and reflects. Retelling this brings tears of gratitude. "The dark times happen for us, not to us!" So true, my dear Jason! So true indeed!
Barry Jenkins
North Fort Myers, FL, United States
Retired gifted and special needs teacher. Taught in an international school in Seoul, Korea for ten years. caregiver, author, speaker.
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28 Jan 16:14
Like most comments, I concur that love is essential and nothing exists without it. "God is love" and he's the SOURCE of it all. Faith is important when living through the questions and situations that help us grow. Of course, some folks claim to be atheists. They may not see faith as important at all. However, even an atheist would be hard pressed to deny the existence and human need for love.