When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I’m older, I admire kind people.
Rabbi Milton Steinberg
Telushkin reviews the tale of Rebecca at the well. A woman, who happened to be lovely, was also strong enough to carry water for camels, and kind enough to offer water to a stranger. Who happened to be Abraham’s servant, looking for a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac.
Kindness. A quality that can be measured in so many small ways. Like all of Telushkin’s writings to this point - the quality of the person is in the small details of their behavior. Kindness. Fairness. Honoring your family above all else.
Karyl and I have been together for almost 34 years. 34 years!! It’s impossible to remember all of the big and small things that have transpired over that time. Seattle. Kids. Newton. Jobs. Friends. Losses. Victories. So much to be measured in so many small moments.
Kindness. The little moments I get to experience everyday when I work at Starbucks, and how little effort is required to make someone smile. The surprisingly small things that elicit the response, “Wow. You just made my day. I really needed that.” Kindness is so easy.
With both kids home for the summer, I am readjusting to be an everyday parent. I realize again how easy it is NOT to be kind. I have to remember the mantra from several days ago, “Be the reason someone smiles today.”
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