You really told me no?

I was lucky enough to attend an event today in South Bend and it was called the 'Miracle Luncheon.' It was put on by the Center For The Homeless...The main theme throughout the entire luncheon was the word 'kindness' and what it means to so many people and how we should all be more kind.

This post isn't going to make you think to hard, I just want it to encourage you to seek kindness. When you seek something you will find it. Just like how we should always seek Christ...

But seriously though...how true is that statement. It's like having someone close their eyes and telling them that when they open then they must find everything that is brown around them...the first thing those people are going to look for is anything and everything that is brown. If they run out of brown things to see they will begin to compromise. They might see some dark maroon that looks like it could be close to brown and then they will count it...

I believe it's the same thing with kindness. If you are searching for it in other people you will find it. I promise you.

A perfect example of this happened while I was driving back.

Before I share, I want to mention that I never write these things to make me sound good or to try and make myself sound like I am some sort of super-great-awesome person. I am always real with you when I write and I believe the best way people learn and are encouraged is through honesty and stories.

When I left the luncheon, I had one thing on my mind (along with kindness), and that was getting a smoothie. To do this, I had to go out of the way so that I could get one. As I approached the intersection where I was about to make my turn I saw a homeless man standing there.

All sorts of emotions hit me. There had to be a reason that he was there...right after I was at a lunch hosted by the Center For The Homeless. Right after I was at a lunch I wasn't even planning on going to. Yes! I had no idea this was today...one of my colleagues son's was ill and I was asked to fill his spot.

 I wanted to do something for this man but didn't know what I should do.

I was either going to get the smoothie I wanted, or I could get this guy something. I figured he needed something more than I did, so I stoped into Bigby and got him the biggest hot chocolate they had. I was so excited to give it to him that I could hardly contain it. I knew that this was going to make his day.

If I was standing outside in the cold I would definitely want one. As I approached, I rolled down my window, I told him that I just got this for him and asked him if he liked hot chocolate and he said to me..."no thanks, I am good."

This honestly wrecked me. I know it sounds silly, but I was super excited to give this guy something I just went and bought for him. I was devastated while driving back to the office. Why in the world did he tell me no?

I wrestled with this thought for about 15 minutes and as I was walking back into the office I remembered that our receptionist was a huge fan of hot chocolate and that maybe I could surprise her with it.

I always saw her drinking hot chocolate, so hopefully she would take it and not think it was weird.

When I thought of this idea, I was so excited and filled with joy. Luckily, our receptionist wasn't at her desk, so I was able to leave it there for a surprise...

Our receptionist was overjoyed when she found the hot chocolate and it seemed like it really made her day. I was also very fulfilled after being shot down 15 minutes beforehand.


Why share this? Kindness is found when you seek it. I could have easily been totally down on myself for the rest of the day but what good what that have done? Probably no good at all. When I was wrestling with my thoughts on what I should do, the idea of kindness was just stuck in my head. I knew that I needed to seek kindness.

I did, and was very fulfilled.

Friends, seek kindness! Especially at this time of year. Just because something doesn't go your way, does't seem the rest of your day should be affected or that there are no kind people in this world. Seek and you will find.