Wonderful Wednesday - Unexpected Kindness from a Friend

Wonderful Wednesday - an unexpected kindness from a friend is a wonderful thing!

Each Wonderful Wednesday throughout the month of September I am going to celebrate unexpected kindnesses I have been blessed to receive. I invite you to both celebrate unexpected kindnesses and to provide unexpected kindnesses to others.

I moved out on my own when I was 19 years old. I was in my second year of college at Community College of Philadelphia. That is when I met Jackie Chaney. Jackie was a married Christian mother of five who came back to college. Jackie was like a big sister to me when I really needed one. It was hard to be living out on my own, hard mentally, financially, socially and emotionally. Jackie took time to be nice to me, to advise me, and to help me every chance she could.

Jackie and I used to go out to lunch two or so days per week.I always made sure to order the least expensive thing possible because of my limited budget. There is nothing spectacular about that. What was an unexpected kindness was the fact that  Jackie would always slip money to cover my portion of the meal back into my pocket or into my backpack. It took me quite a while to realize what she was doing. She was being kind to me and allowing me to save face. Keep in mind Jackie had five children at home and could have used the ten bucks she kept returning to me each week.  But week after week, time after time Jackie showed me kindness in so many ways.

Since those days at CCP, I have tried to treat other people as Jackie treated me. If I see a friend in need, I step in and help. I always make sure to be subtle with my help, to allow my friends to maintain their dignity. I have told so many people about Jackie and her kindness. Over the years, life has intervened and Jackie and I have lost touch, but I have never forgotten her unexpected kindness. Now you have heard the story and perhaps will be inspired to spread some unexpected kindness of your own.

Acts of unexpected kindness may have waves that reach out into areas and people you may not have thought of.  Go and spread some unexpected kindness around you. So, the question for you this Wonderful Wednesday is what unexpected kindness can you do to make life better for a friend?

Add a link to your favorite post about an unexpected kindness from a friend.