"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Monday, September 21, 2009

The ripple effect . . .


Happy Birthday to Faith Hill, Stephen King, and H. G. Wells.

"Man must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind him to the fact that each moment of his life is a miracle and a mystery." ~ H. G. Wells.


I read a book once and I remember a story out of it about something called the 'ripple effect' - the book was about doing just one thing differently every day - something ever so tiny - even if was reading ten minutes a day every day - and how it will change you - you may not see how or even ever see the change - but it might have a ripple effect for someone else.

My grandson is in martial arts. Andy was in Tae Kwan Do for about a year and a half. He did the Tiger program quite well. Graduated and went into the more grown up part of the program. He froze - he literally couldn't move - it was too overwhelming for him. My heart was breaking for him. I took him to about 20 individual lessons, but to no avail. He just couldn't get it. The people - the staff - didn't believe in him. He was getting further and further behind and discouraged, I knew I had to do something.

My friend Lynne - God had just so happened to place in my life (via a vitamin product and church) - who just happened to be a black belt somewhere else in a similar, but different martial art. She talked to me about it and I talked to my daughter (ripple effect) and we thought we'd try it. Lynne actually went with us, introduced us to a very special man - a grand master of this art - who I will get to later. She actually sat and took the class with Andy! OMG. He was scared, but so happy and secure with Lynne.

Then the grand master and I talked. He looked in my eyes and saw the pain I had there for my grandson. He said Andy was discouraged and needed some 'mind' help. He knew exactly what was in my heart. He believed in Andy! And we made a very weird connection that day.

So Andy started all over again - but for the first few belts instead of taking the normal time - he skipped him faster. He said, "Change the belt - change the mind." And I tell you it was no lie. Andy started changing his heart and mind from day one - because he was believed in. Now he is working hard and doing what everyone else is and in the same length of time. He's a real green belt which is halfway to his black belt.

Now God put Lynne in my life, she put Andy at her martial arts and is his mentor, and now the grand master is his mentor (and mind too). One little random act of kindness is all it took to change the life of a little boy forever (and me too). His path from thinking badly of himself to thinking better of himself - took one little random act of kindness.

Now some people will never know what their act of random kindness will do in the future. Not so with Lynne and the grand master because they are still my dear friends and I tell them all the time! Maybe when Andy grows up - my hope is - that he will take someone under his wing and do one little random act of kindness. This would be the ripple effect because then who he took under his wing would hopefully do the same. We may never see the total effect - but does it really matter?

This grand master has given to me too. I feel so safe and at peace when I see him. He holds my hand when we talk - and we're just talking - but I can 'feel' that he believes in me. I think he 'sees' that I have a struggle going on in my life and somehow he's passing to me via his hand some of his positive energy and love. It's hard to explain, but I value it immensely. It makes me feel good. Hopefully in turn I pass that to others. . .

And conversely - you can do random acts of meanness - and I suppose that has ripple effects down the road as well.

So what random acts of kindness has someone done for you that you feel special about?

Don't forget to do random acts of kindness for someone else.

Love,
Chatty

5 comments:

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Chatty.. this was a worthwhile message and a terrific post. Thanks for writing it and your story!

ClassyChassy said...

What a great story today - love the way it is personalized- gives us a peek into your life! So very interesting! So often it is easier to write about what others say or do and how they inspire us. This actually gives a view of the goings on in your family. Refreshing.

I've paid toll for drivers behind me on occasion, or passed candy to the toll booth operators...took the time to complement someone whose service impressed me (usually waitresses and other people in the service industry hear only complaints!). One time I felt God tugging at my heart as I watched a woman of Mexican descent wipe down tables and clear dishes - she dropped a pile of plates and cups, because the establishment prohibited use of 'bus pans', preferring instead to have the help try to balance dishes in their hands - how crazy is THAT! As we were leaving, I went over and handed her a large amount of tip money - just for HER - and she looked at me with tears in her eyes, and we gave each other a big hug - she must have truly needed money, and I know they make the bare minimum. I could use the money myself these days, the good Lord knows it is hard for us right now. We may never know the way our lives touch others, but I am always aware of God's gentle nudges, and to give where I feel led to. God pays back in triplicate!

Chatty Crone said...

What wonderful comments and stories!

Thanks for sharing one of your too Classy. What goes around - eventually - will come around - I truly believe that.

In Alaska someone talked me into buying and leaving my waitress a dessert, I had never thought of that before, but she was ranting and raving about how good this bread pudding was (that I was afraid to try)- as I had never had any before. So I tried it (loved it) and bought and left one for her.

What a nice thing you did for that woman - I know she has to be passing it down to some one else!

Paying tolls is a good one too.

Buttercup said...

Great post. I don't think I can count all the kind deeds folks have done for me over the years. I try to start each day with a kind word or a smile to someone on the subway or giving directions to a tourist on the street. Even if I'm feeling gloomy, I feel a lot less gloomy.

Chatty Crone said...

The truth is I can make myself gloomy or not gloomy - in how I self talk to myself as well.