Lending Kindness

Recently I had a terrible cold. My throat was sore, I was aching, feeling run down, and my nose was running. I had no medicine so I decided to get some fresh air on the prison exercise yard.While I was on my walk, an inmate I hardly knew asked how I was doing and offered me some cough sweets and some tissues. He wanted nothing in return. He could see my discomfort and thought only of how he could help. 

Later that evening a friend offered me more cough sweets. I soon began to feel much better in body and spirit thanks to the kindness and caring of those two fellow inmates.

Although I am in prison, I see acts of kindness, sharing and giving every day. In my unit alone there are two ‘love boxes’ – collection boxes for donations such as toiletries for the inmates who cannot afford to buy these things for themselves. The true spirit of charity is one of the greatest things I have become part of and witnessed while in prison – people placing the needs of others before their own. From simple acts of kindness to an entire inmate population helping one another, it’s a beautiful thing to witness. God invites all of us to do the same.

Prayer: Dear God, teach us to care for others the way you care for us. Amen