Simple Acts of Kindness

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings
Baltimore AFRO American
12-24-10

Simple Acts of Kindness
A Baltimore Christmas Message

Of all the blessings for which I am grateful, the strength and kindness of my family and neighbors provide the most lasting comfort.

Each morning as I leave for Washington, I see them waiting for the bus to work.  At day’s end, as they return from their second or third job, we meet again as I, too, journey home.

From dark to dark, these brief meetings are an inspiration.

Under the grey skies of December, we confront the chilling end of another year. Like humanity everywhere, we bring cheer to a season in which darkness seeks to rule.

This is the time of year when the Sun denies us much of its light.  We respond with an outpouring of warmth that is fundamental to the human spirit.

During the prolonged winter nights, we cry out to that Power who is greater than ourselves, giving praise to a God who loves us - and connects us to one another.

In contrast to the individualism of summer, winter is the season of our shared humanity.  Our winter prayers express our highest aspirations. 

From our differing faith traditions, we receive the Hope central to Christmas, the Light of Hanukkah, the Peace of Islam and the Unity of Kwanza.

“We are children of the same God,” our prayers proclaim. “We belong to the same human family.  We need not be alone in the darkness.”

Through our worship, whatever the form, we are reminded of this fundamental truth.  The only fires that can outlast winter are those that we, ourselves, light by sharing our lives with others.

This insight is critical.

The winter holidays can also be a time of deep depression for those whose lives are more difficult and isolated than our own.  When we choose to look, we can see the sadness of people sitting alone in our coffee shops and cafes, surrounded by the sounds of the season.

We should ask ourselves:  “Does their despair come from holiday reminders of a departed loved one?  Does their seasonal depression arise from memories of a better past - or from the fear of an uncertain future?”

Whatever may be the source of our neighbors’ isolation, the loneliness in their eyes reminds us of the words from an old Temptations’ song:

“Piece of newspaper at my feet, We go blowing down the street.”
“Got our stories, old and new, Need someone to tell them to.”
“We don't have to be eye to eye or face to face,”
“I'm not asking for miracles or saving space.”
“And I don’t need another heart to have and hold.”
“All I want is a friend I can talk to, soul to soul.”

When I think of all of the love that blesses my own life, I know that within each person there lives the power to uplift others.

Our companionship, help and concern can become priceless gifts to those who are isolated, lonely or impoverished.  These neighbors are waiting, hoping for an outstretched hand and a few precious moments of human conversation.

Even small gifts can evoke inspiration and joy.  A home-baked cake, a pie or even a treat for their pet can help someone we know push their sorrows aside for a few moments.

As the Temptations’ song expressed, these are times when so many of us just need a neighbor to reach out and talk to them. 

By a short visit, perhaps with a small gift, or an invitation to dinner, each of us can bring light back into someone’s life.  Through a brief journey to a nearby nursing home or an hour reading to someone who has lost sight, we can restore those who are lost to their larger community.

By these tangible expressions of our faith, we lend substance to our holiday celebrations.
 
In our modern age, we risk forgetting the art of hospitality that our ancestors practiced with such good-natured grace.  Yet, by these simple acts of kindness and respect, we begin to remember what it means to be fully human.

These are important lessons.

During this holiday season, our children are watching us.

By our compassion for others, we can teach them that they, too, have the ability to transform strangers into friends.

What better lesson could we share with them?

What greater joy could any of us receive than the light of friendship on a dark winter’s eve?

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings represents Maryland’s Seventh Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.