Before You Know What Kindness Really Is

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing

It is only kindness that makes sense anymore

—Naomi Shihab Nye 

2 0 1 7

the year of great loss and 

great kindness 

T O I L

hard work

problems to solve and solve and solve again 

physical and emotional 

reserves thin and all hands on deck

disappointments set aside to nurse later, maybe never

siblings left to play together trusting you have filled them

with enough attention and love and resilience  

that they'll be okay for awhile (maybe longer) 

while you take care of emergencies and
ailing parents  

and barns

and business

and life's myriad of not your everyday problems

C O M M U N I T Y 

collective kindness 

generosity in a profound way

a hive of friends buzzing in and out of our life

to offer help with 

our  children  parents

painting  building  cooking

moving 

readying 

offering respite for the weary 
the grieving

and endlessly busy

sending food and funds and gifts

to ease our burden and lift our spirits

and remind us 

that this too shall pass

and life will get easier 

and that in times like this

kindness is the only thing that makes sense

we have only

G R A T I T U D E

for everyone 

who has helped us through 2017