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
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
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
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
