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Being kind takes no effort.
It comes naturally to some people.
The morning Den died, there was an endless parade of total strangers through my living room… paramedics, law enforcement, victim advocates, mortuary staff.
I cannot remember names, but I remember each and every face because there was so much kindness in their eyes.
My sisters and youngest son hadn’t arrived yet, but on the worst day of my life, I felt comforted by the kindness of strangers.
Over the coming weeks as I transitioned to widow-status, I was always surprised by—and still comforted by—the kindness of strangers who were patient with my tears and delayed response to questions.
Ironically, where I should have received the most kindness from, family, it was slow in coming, if it ever showed up at all.
Those who know me know I’m no fragile flower, so I wasn’t bothered by the actions—or inactions—of family members. But, when I was approached over the weeks and months after losing Den to reach out and comfort OTHER family members—and no, there was no loss, just the consequences of their own actions—it took everything in me not to snap.
Instead, I responded that I still wasn’t in a comfortable place since losing my husband, but I’d definitely keep them in my thoughts and prayers.
See how kindness works? 😀
Remember to extend a little kindness whenever you can. You just might make someone’s day.
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On May 30, 2019, I lost Dennis, my husband of over thirty-five years. Ten short weeks later on August 18, 2019, I lost my eighty-four-year-old mother. My grief journey has not been an easy one. While we know grief has five stages, there are many situations and feelings some bereaved never get to express, and I’m using my first AtoZ Challenge to say things I’ve never been able to give voice to. I hope you’ll follow my journey.
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Felicia Denise, Author 