“Mom, can I buy this bag of Hershey kisses to hand out at school?”  

“Well, I love the thought, but is that allowed?”

“I’m just sharing the love, Mom!”

In a hurting world of school shootings, hate, and unbelievable evil, how could I not encourage him to share love and kindness? So he did! Apparently his kisses were well received.  My son’s idea took me back to when I was a little girl in Greenville, Texas. There was an elderly man named Fred Powers who went to my church and worked at the TG&Y. It has been 30 years since I last saw him, but he is still making a difference in my life today.  I was fascinated by Mr. Powers because he would show the most amazing kindness and encouragement to every man, woman and child in his path, and he would always give everyone a Hershey kiss! He would say, “Before you go, here’s a kiss!”

I remember all the laughter, smiles, and happiness that he inspired.  He didn’t have to do that; he wasn’t reimbursed by Hershey for the hundreds of bags of candy he blessed people with…but I’m so thankful he did what he did. To this day, Fred Powers stands out in my mind as someone I want to imitate. Kindness really impacts me…it speaks very powerfully…in a way that changes my thoughts, my words, my actions and ultimately my life.

See, if this kindness is what knowing Jesus inspires one to do, then I want to know Jesus!  

Everywhere we go, we will find people starving for kindness…and we can share it with them…probably never fully realizing how powerful it really is!  I am so thankful to the Lord for people like Mr. Powers, for the precious hearts of my children that inspire me so very much, and for the ultimate example of the kindness of Jesus Christ to us!!

“Be kind and compassionate to one another.” Ephesians 4:32