My Definition of Community
By Constance Loef
I live in a community. That community is defined by a shared space and a shared government and community life is by definition a life of cooperation and responsibility. I believe a good community lives and acts by trust, respect, goodwill, loyalty and compassion. I believe that compassion calls us to help others who have fallen between the cracks. And my community does. But I have come to believe that it is not just up to local-non profits, faith based communities, family and friends to fulfill these needs. I believe it’s up to us, to look inward and ask ourselves how we could do just a little more to assist those in need.
I believe the answer lies in Personal Acts or Simple Acts of Kindness. Personal acts are usually private deeds done to help someone in some way. Maybe you quietly buy a bag of groceries for a single mother or help an elderly gentleman find his car.
Simple acts of kindness are easy, unpretentious, humble. The easiest and best way to be kind is just a simple “thank-you”
to someone who never gets one. A simple thank-you to the cashier at Walmart for treating a grouchy customer considerately. A simple ‘thank-you’ to the gentleman in church who works tirelessly collecting funds to help people pay their rent.
Recently I heard of two high school boys who took some of their Christmas money and gave it to the janitor at the gym they worked out at who they felt needed it more than they did. Privately, unpretentious.
A woman at a care-giving center who sat down and cried when she was thanked for all she had done. She said, “I had never been thanked.” Plain, humble.
The list is endless and so are the opportunities for each of us to participate. These Personal and Simple acts of kindness provide a certain grace and beauty to the community. Wouldn’t it be marvelous if that was the legacy for which our community was most remembered!!
Constance
I believe the answer lies in Personal Acts or Simple Acts of Kindness. Personal acts are usually private deeds done to help someone in some way. Maybe you quietly buy a bag of groceries for a single mother or help an elderly gentleman find his car.
Simple acts of kindness are easy, unpretentious, humble. The easiest and best way to be kind is just a simple “thank-you”
to someone who never gets one. A simple thank-you to the cashier at Walmart for treating a grouchy customer considerately. A simple ‘thank-you’ to the gentleman in church who works tirelessly collecting funds to help people pay their rent.
Recently I heard of two high school boys who took some of their Christmas money and gave it to the janitor at the gym they worked out at who they felt needed it more than they did. Privately, unpretentious.
A woman at a care-giving center who sat down and cried when she was thanked for all she had done. She said, “I had never been thanked.” Plain, humble.
The list is endless and so are the opportunities for each of us to participate. These Personal and Simple acts of kindness provide a certain grace and beauty to the community. Wouldn’t it be marvelous if that was the legacy for which our community was most remembered!!
Constance