Childlike Kindness

Happy New Year! That phrase used to mean so much to me. I would reflect on my year, make goals and plans for the new year and remember good times with wonderful people. However, as I have gotten older, New Year’s helps me to focus on simple truths and happiness.

I had the opportunity to enjoy the holidays with my family. My granddaughter and grandson have been visiting from Utah and have struggled to adjust to the time change so they would be up early before everyone else. They are three and six years old. The oldest would be so helpful each morning with her brother, helping him get Cheerios, get set up to watch Bluey (his favorite show) or to color together. It made my heart melt to see the simple kindness of one sibling to another. No one told her to do it each morning, it came from within her. My grandson would say, “Thanks sissy” every time she helped. In many ways, witnessing that type of kindness was my favorite present I received this holiday season.

The recent winter storms and winds both in Alaska and in the lower 48 have provided opportunities to serve both friends and neighbors. I read about the Korean travelers who knocked on a stranger’s door in Buffalo, and ended up spending two days there, all ten of them, enjoying the hospitality of complete strangers. There are countless stories of people being stuck in the snow and being pulled out, dug out or towed out by fellow travelers. People who had and I am inspired by the neighbors, friends and strangers who rallied to dig people out of wind packed snow blocking doors or garages.

One morning, an elderly woman found herself snowed in and without power and full of anxiety and worry. A neighbor, who did not know her very well recognized the potential danger and called friends to help clear a way for her, loan her a generator and get her home warm, up and running. This neighbor’s daughter even made her breakfast while they saw others work outside the window. My social media feed is full of such acts of unsolicited kindness. It has been inspirational to see Alaskans helping Alaskans in such a way.

I am reminded of the Good Samaritan in the book of Luke, chapter seven in the New Testament. The story has been told over and over however I recently learned that on the societal scale, Samaritans at the time were on a lower rung, so socially, it was inappropriate for the Samaritan to render aid yet he did. In verse 34 of the KJV “And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.” The Samaritan’s help did not stop at the roadside but continued to ensure the injured man healed and even recovered.

I often wonder, what might have happened to those we help along the way? I have cared for patients who have moved on or moved out of state, I wonder how they did with their life, with their disease, did they end up “Happily ever after?” While we usually cannot know the impact of our actions, we can gain comfort in following the example of Jesus Christ and loving others.

The kindness my granddaughter demonstrated toward her brother in those early hours, offers an example of unselfish care that inspires me. I hope that we might illuminate our lives with generous acts as we start this year. The power of a smile, a helping hand without expecting something in return can do more to change hearts than anything else. Yes, I do have personal goals for myself as this year starts, and hope we all may follow the example of a child and of our Savior by cultivating patience, curiosity, and love.

John Boston is a local physician, follower of Christ and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.