#withkindnessandlove 18 – #WeStandTogether

It’s hard to find the words to share my thoughts on this week’s terror attack in Manchester. Such a horrific thing to happen. My heart goes out to those families who have been affected; those who have lost loved ones. For someone to target children and young people in this way; people who were just out having fun and enjoying themselves is utterly despicable. I cannot understand why there are people in this world with so much hate in their hearts that they want to kill others. The world is a dark and scary place sometimes.

 

At times like this when we see humanity at its worst, we also see it at its best. People coming together in solidarity, showing kindness and compassion to strangers. People offering places for people to stay. Taxi drivers offering free lifts. A homeless man who ran towards the danger to help others; who held a woman in his arms as she died. The police, paramedics, nurses and doctors trying to help those caught up in the attack, trying to save lives. People giving blood, praying, donating money, sharing social media posts to try to find the missing. People who just wanted to help, to try to ease the pain of others in some small way.

 

This quote from Fred Rogers is one that I always turn to in moments like this. There will always be helpers. They are the many; the evil are the few. Those who have evil in their hearts will not win; they can never win. No matter how much hate they try to spread, love will always be stronger. As long as there are those whose first response is “what can I do to help?” there is hope for humanity.

 

 

This week #withkindnessandlove post is a little different. This week I am focusing on just sharing some small acts of kindness. Stories like these are extra important at times like this. They are a reminder of just what a difference a small moment of kindness can make.

 

 

Little moments of kindness

“I was already having the worst day and was running late for my little one’s swimming lesson. Whilst on the way my little one decided to have an explosive poo. By the time I got to the swimming baths, I was so stressed out that I could have cried. To make matters worse, my little one decided that he was going to crawl away whilst I struggled to change his nappy, smearing poo everywhere. A mother and daughter noticed me struggling and despite missing their own baby’s swimming lesson, they helped me sort out my own baby and kept me from having a complete melt down. It was something so simple but meant so much to me.” (Nadine – Then I Became Mum)

 

 

“Knowing my love for baby-wearing, fellow pblogger Hannah who writes over at Budding Smiles recently offered to send me a stunning ring sling as her youngest hadn’t taken to being worn. She didn’t even want any money for it when offered and was just pleased it was going to a good home! Thank you for being so kind, sweet. Hannah actually inspired me to give away an unused baby carrier myself.” (Danielle – This Woman’s Word)

 

 

“In the flustered state of getting two children into the trolley and bags etc. out of the car I completely forgot to get a car parking ticket! Some lovely person must have seen and popped one under my wiper 🙏🏼 just a small thing but definitely left me feeling warm inside!” (Amy – The Smallest of Things)

 

 

“After a particularly stressful week with my youngest in hospital we went to pay the car parking, and the attendant smiled at us, scanned the ticket and let us though. A small gesture that in a time of stress meant a lot.” (Victoria – Mummy Times Two)

 

 

“A few weeks ago I took my son to the park around the corner from our house. When it was time to leave Harry decided to throw himself down on the pavement and have a major tantrum. I was struggling to calm him down and had little energy as I’m pregnant and suffering with HG. A little old lady was walking towards us and looking at Harry. I thought she was going to roll her eyes or tut like we so often get but she didn’t. She bent down and said hello to him. Harry and I were both taken aback but he said hello back and held out his hand to ask for hers. She offered it and helped him up. He asked for both our hands and said “123?” Meaning he wanted us to swing him as we walked. The lady introduced herself and offered to walk with us to the corner of our street. She said she had been there herself with her children and that I was doing a great job. I could’ve cried. That lovely lady will never know how much her kindness meant to me but I will always remember her, her patience and her willingness to help out a mother at the end of her tether.” (Kayley – Friendly First Foods)

 

 

If you have any stories about being on the receiving end of an act of kindness that you’d like me to include in a future blog post, please feel free to email them to me at louise @ littleheartsbiglove.co.uk or fill in the form here.