Kindness is a big deal in our house. It’s cause for celebration. We don’t have confetti or banners or balloons that drop from the ceiling, but my kids know they’re going to get a big hug and see absolute joy in their momma’s face when I find out they’ve gone out of their way to be kind.
“My husband had a life-threatening health issue in August and is now not able to do some of the activities he could do before, like lifting and carrying things.
“We had not been to town for groceries and other supplies for quite some time, so when we finally did go shopping, we had a ‘boatload’ of things to carry into our home. When we pulled up to our house, the neighbor’s son and two friends were shooting baskets next door.
“We made the attempt to start carrying the groceries and supplies inside when out of the blue (and without being asked or told), these three young boys stopped their basketball game and carried all of our bags into our home. Even the mother was impressed, as she had not asked them to do this.
“This is the type of kindness in our youth that we never read about. I wanted these boys to get the recognition they deserved for their kind act, so much to their embarrassment, I announced to the First Lutheran congregation in Hunter, N.D., what these three boys, Hunter, Logan and Michael, had done for us. Let’s hear it for our wonderful youth!
“Besides being honor students at Northern Cass School, Hunter, Logan and Michael seem to be involved in just about every extracurricular activity that Northern Cass offers.
“Beyond that, the same neighbor boy mows our yard each time he mows his own. How very much we appreciate this!
“In my opinion, these three are priceless and a beauty to our community and school.”
Thanks for calling the boys out on their kindness, Carol! They may be a little embarrassed by the attention, but at least they will know that their acts of kindness are noticed and appreciated. And I wouldn’t be surprised if all of the attention prompts them to look for even more ways to be kind in the future!
Please continue to share your stories of kindness with me at info@nicolejphillips.com. Or send a letter to Kindness is Contagious c/o Nicole J. Phillips, The Forum, 101 5th St. N., Box 2020, Fargo, ND 58107.
Nicole J. Phillips is a former television anchor for Fox News in Fargo. She is a writer, speaker and mother of three kids. Nicole is married to Ohio University’s men’s head basketball coach Saul Phillips. Her column runs every Saturday. You can visit Nicole at nicolejphillips.com.
