A thought-provoking story provides a journey for us to explore life’s lessons. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is a heartfelt book filled with characters and conversations to reflect on questions we may have forgotten to ask ourselves.  One of my favorites is:

This beautiful book, follows the tale of an unlikely friendship between a curious boy, a greedy mole, a wary fox and a wise horse who find themselves in difficult terrain. Sharing their greatest fears and biggest discoveries reminds us of some universal lessons like how to love without limit.

Thanks to my delightful friend, Ada Alden, for recommending this book. She is a blueprint for kindness.

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“It was an inspired song and they really wanted to give the world a message” commented Brian Epstein, band manager of the Beatles.  The first performance of All You Need Is Love was in 1967 on Our World, the first live global television link, and watched by 400 million people in 26 countries via satellite.

What made this hit so popular?  Epstein concluded “The nice thing about it is that it cannot be misinterpreted. It is a clear message saying that love is everything.”

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The goal of writing to a person in prison is to let them know they are not forgotten. Through letters, we show compassion, caring, and understanding. I joined the Twin Cities Prison Ministry several years ago to help provide a presence to those affected by incarceration.

In a letter I received from my first pen pal, Donald, he said how sorry he was for taking so long to write, but he didn’t have money to buy stamps. He went on to say how my letter  put a very big smile on his face.  “Friends are hard to find” he wrote, and “Where there was no hope, now there is hope.”  I also appreciated knowing he’s praying for me and my family. Every letter ended with “write real soon.”

Lenny’s first letter began with how happy and thankful he was to receive a letter and for taking time out of a …
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Often it’s the little things we do that have the greatest impact. Spontaneous acts of kindness can leave a little sparkle in someone’s day.

Need a few ideas?

*  Tell your best friend what you appreciate about them
*  Leave a note on someone’s windshield wishing them a good day
*  Buy a box of cookies and take them to a domestic abuse shelter
*  Tell the next service person you encounter how good they are at what they do
*  Fill a bag with snacks, socks and a bottle of water. Toss it in your car and hand
it to the next homeless person you see.

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‘Tis the season to be kind.  What’s in your cup?

Little Rosie had no money, so she “borrowed” a beautiful handkerchief from her mother’s purse and carefully wrapped it in bright tissue paper to give to her mama on Christmas morning.  That gift was never forgotten.

The value of a gift is the thought that goes into it.  The gifts we tend to remember are those which are wrapped with love.

A gift you might give yourself this season could be a cupful of kindness spilled on anonymous receivers.

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