Doing the work of kindness

A few months ago I was half listening to the news when they suddenly switched from covering the world's doom and gloom to a feel good story about an organization called Birthday Wishes. By the time the story was over, tears were streaming down my face, as they often do. I'm a crier. Don't judge. I frantically started searching for something like that in my area and I found Bright Blessings USA. Birthday Wishes and Bright Blessings both do the same thing; they give birthday parties to homeless children. I would not be exaggerating if I told you the Heavens opened wide and angels sang when I discovered BB. I immediately texted my BFF, (do people still use that term?) Sassy Britches and said "We would be awesome at this!!!!" To her credit, she immediately texted back "Let's do it!!!"

Now, we know some incredibly amazing women who were the first to hear about our adventure and they asked excitedly "How can we help?" And help they did. They've donated boxes of party supplies and cake mix and they've reminded us over and over that there is nothing a bunch of mothers can't do when we work together.

They often tell us that we're wonderful and kind and selfless and they admire us so much. They say we're doing "God's work." I don't  really know about that. While I'm sure Jesus is happy about what we're doing and I hope that one day I'll be handsomely rewarded with a ginormous red velvet cupcake with piles of cream cheese icing on those streets of gold, I think we're just doing something we enjoy. We're doing the work of kindness. The work of humanity. Sassy Britches does the work of God along with Sister Britches and Mama Britches when they love me and accept me despite my questions, my doubts and my baggage. That is God's work. Our work is merely showing up once a month to eat cake.

The shelter we volunteer at is one of the happiest places on Earth. (Sorry, Disney. Y'all ain't got nothin' on this place.) At least it is on the second Wednesday of every month. It's inside those four walls that everyone is equal. We all repeat ourselves a million times before our kids finally listen. We're all exhausted at the end of the day. We all love our children and want the best for them. Inside those four walls, we all have the same hopes, fears and dreams. We all hope we're doing the right things and we won't screw up these amazing little people we've been given. We're all scared their misbehavior and less desirable traits are indications of sociopathic tendencies. And we all dream that our children will one day have better lives than we had. Inside those four walls, we are all just mothers. Just mothers. Without the labels society gives us: Pinterest Mommy, Stepford Mommy, Crazy Can't Get Her Shit Together Mommy, Homeless Mommy.

It is inside those four walls that the children thank God for their many blessings before each meal. That's right, their many blessings. It seems odd in a society where we measure wealth in material possessions and money that these children have anything to be thankful for. But the truth is, they're perhaps richer than anyone I know because they have a village. They have each other.

 In a society where the latest iPhone and the biggest house are things to be desired and sought after, we deem these women and their children unworthy of our riches or our kindness unless it's Christmas or someone is watching and we want to appear kind. After all, these women must just be lazy. They must be addicts. Somehow it's their fault they don't have an iPhone, or a car or a big house. And why should we help them? People need to learn to help themselves, right? Wrong. If your family has one breadwinner (looking at all you SAHMs), if you don't have at least 6 months of living expenses saved or if you don't have any close family, you are at risk of homelessness. There's a sobering reality.

When did we become so numb to the struggles of others? When did we start ignoring our neighbors? When did we become so immersed in our own lives, that we can't even spare two hours of our time? How have we forgotten to be thankful for our blessings?

Just the other day I noticed the Christmas decor is already making an appearance in retail stores. Its the time of year when people will start to consider being kind to others in between buying more crap they don't need to deck their halls. But what about the rest of the year? The need for kindness in this world doesn't cease on December 26 and that is why I am challenge you to a random act of kindness. To pass on your many blessings. And I'm not talking about buying the lunch of the equally privileged person in line behind you at Chick-fil-a or buying an overpriced latte at Starbucks. I'm talking about giving your time to help someone out. Maybe its mowing your elderly neighbor's lawn or helping the frazzled mama you see in the grocery store get her groceries and kids to the car. And if you want to give your money away, give it to a homeless person  and choose to believe them when they say they're using the money for food rather than using that worn out excuse that they'll just use it for drugs or alcohol. Let's face it. If you were homeless and lost all your dignity, were forced to rely on the kindness of others and that kindness was rare, you'd need a drink too.

Now get out there and do the work of kindness! I want to hear all about what you're doing in your communities. I want you to shamelessly toot your own horn about what you did, no matter how small and I want you to encourage others to consider giving time and love instead of fast food meals and fancy coffee.