World Kindness Day

November 13th is World Kindness Day.  And, boy, kindness is something of which we can use a lot more nowadays!

So, here’s a little story for you about the importance of kindness.  My dad, Hugh Liddle, Sr., passed away in 2005 at the age of 82.  A month or so after his death, my mom received a telephone call from a gentleman who had read Dad’s obituary in the Syracuse University alumni newsletter.

He told my mom, “I just had to call and tell you that your husband and I were classmates at Syracuse University in 1948.  At that time, I was the only black man at Syracuse.  And your husband was the only person who was unfailingly kind to me.”

When my mom told me that story, I experienced a variety of emotional responses, not the least of which was tremendous pride in my dad!  Just think about that!  My dad excelled at much in his life.  He retired from his job as the head of internal auditing for the University of Colorado, after many years of service.  He was an elder in his church for years.  He was a fabulous handyman, and after retiring, he did remodels of kitchens and basements for hundreds of people.  And all they had to do was pay for the materials.  He never charged anyone for his labor.  He grew a wonderful vegetable garden every year.  And he was a wonderful husband to my mom and father to me and my siblings.

But what my father was remembered for by this one individual, after 57 years of being out-of-touch, was that he was unfailingly kind!  I want to be remembered in the same way when my time here on earth is over.  I want to be remembered as being unfailingly kind.  I’m not always.  I want to be!  And I work on it constantly.  It is a worthy goal.

I hope you, dear reader, will join me in that quest for unfailing kindness.  Being remembered for it is an attainment worth striving for.  Be kind on World Kindness Day and every day!