May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others...




Good morning it is a beautiful day here in Utah, the sun is shining, the temperatures are a bit cooler and the skies are a beautiful blue!!! Not much better for enjoying porch sitting and painting!

I pray your day is off to a great start and that the entire day will be filled with positive energy and happy smiles. I have found it is much easier to look at the good in the day and let the bad in the day drift away...we are in control of each move of the day, we may no be in control of the events that take place but the most important control IS ours, it is the way in which we handle the events, we can choose to lay down and let them defeat us or we can put on our God armor and make the decision that we will not be defeated! I personally like the way the God armor fits much more than laying in the fetal position letting life dictate to me what will be!

Today I share yet another story of kindness and compassion, I have so enjoyed these uplifting stories and have strived to be the best I can be when it comes to kindness:) 

Kindness of a Stranger

It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man's beard was glazed by winter's frost while he waited for a ride across the river. The wait seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from the frigid north wind.

He heard the faint, steady rhythm of approaching hooves galloping along the frozen path. Anxiously, he watched as several horsemen rounded the bend. He let the first one pass by without an effort to get his attention. Then another passed by, and another. Finally, the last rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue. As this one drew near, the old man caught the rider's eye and said, "Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn't appear to be a passageway by foot."

Reining his horse, the rider replied, "Sure thing. Hop aboard." Seeing the old man was unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman dismounted and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination, which was just a few miles away.

As they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman's curiosity caused him to inquire, "Sir, I notice that you let several other riders pass by without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and you immediately asked me for a ride. I'm curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and left you there?"

The old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse, looked the rider straight in the eyes, and replied, "I've been around these here parts for some time. I reckon I know people pretty good." The old-timer continued, "I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no concern for my situation. It would have been useless even to ask them for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, kindness and compassion were evident. I knew, then and there, that your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give me assistance in my time of need."

Those heartwarming comments touched the horseman deeply. "I'm most grateful for what you have said," he told the old man. "May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion."

With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.


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