In August 1988, George Herbert Walker Bush became the Republican Nominee for President of the United States. In his acceptance speech, he coined a phrase that has reverberated down the halls of time ever since. He exhorted the American people to become a kinder, gentler nation. He referenced “1000 points of light” which represented the diversity of this country. 

I remember this so well. The following year, Hubby #2 and I decided to bring another child into the world and Daughter #2 was born in the Spring of 1990. I was encouraged and uplifted to hear our President encourage acceptance and kindness. Life seemed so simple then. Daughter #1 was preparing to head to college and we were busy raising a baby. 

I kind of lost myself in the last decade of the 20th Century. My Daughter married a wonderful young man and moved to Long Island. My baby started school. My mental health went down the tubes and my marriage tumbled quickly right behind it. I was just coming back to myself when 9/11 happened. I saw our country come together in our collective grief, and again I felt such hope for humanity. We were really there for each other.

I knew when I saw the second tower fall…our country would never be the same. I couldn’t have predicted the state we are in today, but Mr. Virgo did. There were many dinner conversations in which he would warn me of what was to come and I refused to believe it. He would gently chide me to stop acting like Pollyanna and look around me. I kept insisting…kindness matters.

I still believe that. I still believe that those who have damaged our world will be held accountable someday. It may not be in this life…but someday they will be judged by a higher power than any courts of man. I rest on that knowledge. I also know, since the deregulation of the “news”, media peddles whatever sells…truth be damned. While I find this disheartening, I know in the end…this is not my forever home. This is where I came to learn to love like Jesus loves.

Right now, there is a terrible and reckless chess game playing out in Eastern Europe. Mark my words, there is far more to this situation than is apparent on the surface. I am comforted in a renewed solidarity of NATO nations and pray that we will come out of this without destroying the world. Let’s just say…I never EVER dreamed this is how I’d be spending my golden years.

The bottom line is this….no matter what is happening “out there”…I will seek peace, justice, kindness, and love. I had a lovely conversation with the most wonderful woman yesterday. Arlene was supposed to be my aunt. She was my Uncle Sonny’s fiancé. They would have been married sometime in the late ‘50s, but he was killed in a plane crash in 1955. Arlene went on and married and had a family in California. Grandma talked about her till the day she died.

When I was helping my mom with her genealogical research and I discovered the power of the internet, I looked for Arlene and found her. I connected her with my mom and eventually, Arlene and her sister came here to West Virginia. She went to the cemetery and stood in front of my uncle’s grave and, as she wept, she heard a noise and looked up. A solitary military jet flew by overhead. She told me that story yesterday and said, in that moment…she was given closure. 

Arlene is in her mid ‘80s now. Her husband has been gone for many years. She has some health issues but none terribly serious. She called me yesterday because she felt compelled to tell me how good the Lord is to us….even in the midst of uncertainty. Because, the Bible tells us we will have tribulations in this world. But Jesus has overcome the world. And He lives within me. The same power that created the world lives in me…knows me…loves ME. He has overcome the world. 

I peeked at the end of this story. I know how it’s going to go. And I know, the very best thing I can do is share that love with you…share that kindness….offer you hope and peace in knowing we are never, ever alone. No matter how awful the news is. No matter how many scary stories are out there. Now matter how ugly things appear.

If we can be anything in this world…we can be kind. Because…..kindness matters. 

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“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32 ESV