"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
It's April 1. Happy April Fools' Day.
Along with playing practical jokes today, what if we make this a day for practical kindness too?
My grandmother had a tradition of playing jokes on my grandfather on April 1st. Every year, without fail, she came up with some way to trick him. Every year, without fail, he fell for her prank, which made the lines around her eyes crinkle deeper as she laughed with joy. I'm sure some years she really did "get him," but April 1st was her birthday, so I suspect that falling for her joke was sometimes a kindness kind of birthday gift for
her.
As I write this, I'm thinking of ways to play gentle tricks on my husband, our grandchildren, and a few neighbors.
So far, the only idea that popped into my head is to fill our large indoor-outdoor community pool with rubber duckies. That's not practical. How would I get thousands of ducks in the pool? And out? And I suspect that some people in our "55+" community would not find it funny. And the cost!
But can you imagine it? I'm having fun only visualizing it.
I'm thinking now that any action taken to play a gentle trick on someone can be a way of showing we care.
Let's look for ways to be lighthearted and caring today, especially for people who may need it most. We never know when it's too late to do a kindness for someone.
Why not give the gifts of laughter and loving today?
Let's stir up some joy.
Kindly,
Charlene
THE SIXTH GIFT IS JOY: May it keep your heart open and filled with light. - from The Twelve Gifts of Birth
