by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
Kindness matters! In the Letter of St Paul to the Colossians we read: “…you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience” (Col 3:12).
Kindness is a virtue that is sorely lacking in the lives of so many. It was St Teresa who said: “Three things in human life are important; the first is to be kind, the second is to be kind, and the third is to be kind.” Remember that God, with undeserved kindness, redeemed us by sending His Son to die for us. Our Scriptures are replete with examples that show us that Christ is our model of kindness.
At a time when social media is inundated with disturbing video clips of vicious fights involving some T&T school children, in and out of school and in their school uniforms, it was refreshing to read about Darius Herbert’s act of kindness on Wednesday, May 17.
Sixteen-year-old Darius was on his way to school at Trinity College East when an elderly man asked him to tie his shoelaces. A driver took a photo of Darius’ act and placed it on Facebook with the caption: “This impacted on me as I made my way to work… a student of Trinity East on his way to school stopped to tie the laces of a senior citizen preventing him from tripping and injuring himself… well done … parents have done well.”
The post went viral. Radio 96.1 WEFM reports that Darius has since been awarded an honour medal by his school for his good deed. His act brings to life the school’s motto: “Selflessly Serving our Community”.
When interviewed and asked who should get the credit for his act of kindness, he replied: “My entire family especially my mother. They are literally very serious about growing you up to do the right thing and be respectful. I have never had a hesitation in deciding to do the right thing. It’s always natural.”
When I was a teacher I had a ‘Kindness box’ in which children were asked to insert in it anonymous examples of acts of kindness that they had performed each week. At the end of each week these were read to the class to motivate students to practise this virtue. Each school term, the examples were compiled in a ‘Kindness’ book and placed in the school’s library.
If you want to make a difference, reflect on the words of people like St Basil who said: “A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.”
Paragraph 1832 of our Catechism lists kindness as one of the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit (and see Galatians 5:22–23). We need to nurture such virtues in our children and to practise kindness if we are to walk in the path of righteousness. Remember, “Virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do good” (CCC1833).
Let us emulate Darius and practise kindness without expecting anything in return. No doubt his act was motivated by compassion for the elderly man. “We prove we are God’s servants by our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; by a spirit of holiness…” (2 Cor: 6–7).
In November 2014, Catholic News Service reported that Pope Francis asked us to be “bearers of holiness,” which, he said, is the result of hundreds of little steps and gestures each day. And they will be different for each person depending on the circumstances of one’s life. And during his visit to the United States in 2015, he urged everyone to be kind to each other. So, each night as we examine our conscience, let us ask ourselves: “How have I been kind today?”
As we prepare to observe the 172nd Anniversary of Indians arriving in T&T (May 30), let us celebrate our diversity, invest in our families and work to ensure that every creed and race in T&T find an equal place.
I thank God for my great, great paternal grandparents, Madaree and Oozerun, who arrived in Trinidad from India on December 6, 1858 on the ship, the Edith Moore after a 96-day journey. There are many positive attributes that characterised our ancestors. We should celebrate their lives.
