Power of Kindness

Kindness = Love. 

John 13:35 ASV

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Ephesians 4:32 ASV

32 and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave [a]you.

John 13:35 ASV

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Ephesians 4:32 ASV

32 and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave [a]you.

If there are things a follower of Christ should do, Kindness is definitely one of them. Ultimately for God glory. Jesus paid a high price for you, that was love. 

God is kind to us! Even when someone is in a state of being rebellious, not walking with God. Living in a place where all you really think about is surviving day by day, 

You don't realize that you are this kind of person, you don't know it because you are living in darkness, even in that place that dark dank hole. God in his great mercy and love will send you someone to be kind to you. 

It is important to try to be kind to people. You never know what kind of load they are carrying on their shoulders, and your kindness can alter a life course, even though you may never see it until Heaven. 

Here is a story of someone that I hope is inspirational to you. That it will inspire you to show kindness to others. And to those who are kind, but don’t see the fruits in this life time. 

 

Power of Kindness 

 Going To School

 

Hello all. 

Thanks for joining me on my day going to school years ago. Now my day of school starts early. It starts early because I have to get out of the house before everybody else gets up. I sleep with my clothes on and as soon as my eyes open, I’m up, put my shoes on, I'm out that door very quietly not to wake anybody. 

I never wake anybody up, since the 5th grade I have been able to make it out that door without waking anybody up. This is called a survival strategy. This strategy kept me safer than if I didn't use it. On the streets this is called street smarts.

Most of the time I'm at school before anybody else is,

usually I just walk around. Sometimes it is dark out. Now that I'm in high school I go down to the cafeteria area and wait for serving time. A line starts before the window slides open. I have a punch card that gets me free food, a benefit of having less than others. One punch on the card gets me a large jumbo cinnamon roll that was hot and very gooey! Yum yum.I loved it. Washed it down with some ice-cold O J. That was pretty much breakfast. Very much appreciated it.  

Usually, sat down at a table with two of my key friends- Robert, he sits on my right. Hey Robert what's up? How's the weight lifting going? I benched five sets yesterday, almost felt my shoulder dislocate. Robert works after school and saves almost every dollar. His mom taught him how to save. He would save up and buy something expensive and eat baloney sandwiches for lunch. Then sitting right in front is Pete. Pete has a father, a mother, food at home and his Dad gives him an allowance! He's the only guy I know in this lucky state of life. Now I live in the Projects, the life in that hood is much different. That's why I really appreciate my friends! Hey Pete, you going to take the S.A.T test? Yes. When I pass, I will go to SMC. Amazing, that is so cool. Ringggg. Off to class. See you guys at lunch.

 The class I go to is what they call, get close so nobody hears, a Special class, for Special people. Ok not too close you’re breathing on me. I don't know if we were special, didn’t feel special, we  had some difficulties of life that just made things harder. It took a special teacher to understand all that and desire to help Kids that other people didn't want in their class or have the skills necessary to help them. 

It was kind of a way of getting Kids out of the way. At least it felt like that for me because when I was in a regular English class the teacher was frustrated making a face saying why aren't you trying! I am trying! I'm trying as hard as I can!!! At some point we both gave up. I showed up, got an F for my efforts. What does F stand for anyway? I know what comes to mind but it can’t be that. 

It turns out dyslexia was a problem and nobody even knew what that was. Dyslexic, is that a new band? Out of the regular English class and into the class where the teacher for Special Kids go. Never told anybody I went to a Special class everyone thought I went to the regular classes like everybody else which really did feel good, cuz I certainly didn't want to tell anybody. Everybody in the class just wants to be treated like a regular person.  

Walking up the steps of this new class that was all the way in the back of the school, walking up these steps was like going up to a storage room above a garage. It kind of looked like that. Actually, it was over an auto shop, right behind this class was auto shop. Up the steps and in through the door at a quick pace, sat all the way in the back away from the bullies, away from the staring, away from the pointing (street smarts). Never wanted to be noticed. Exhale. Hat on tight, head down low.  I had to be there so I was. 

Roll call. A cast of characters, some of us Kids you can see what makes them different than most, autism, was not commonly know then, but we all knew, another had a condition, a word that does not sound nice, so I will not say it. Another had a condition called projectile vomiting. If he got upset you better duck. Most of them you could not see until it came time to learn, and everybody says I'm here. 

For some reason the new teacher took an interest in me and he wanted to talk to me. I did not want to talk to him. Had a chip on my shoulder, a wreckage from storms that doesn’t pass. (Street Smarts: if I was left alone nobody would bother me). I’m not sure what he said that got me to say the words I spoke but I will say it wouldn't take much, that's for sure. Here I am, first day of class, don't know the teacher, the teacher doesn't know me, and I start arguing. We go back and forth, then I went for the ace of spades. My brother has a 357 Magnum, he'll blow you away. Now my brother, did not have a 357 Magnum “make my day” he had a 38 (buy three and get one free) and he already did a couple drive-byes, before drive byes were popular. (You may ask, I did not know drive byes - where popular? They were in my neighborhood).

 

Well Mr. Copeland didn't like that, no sir he did not like that at all! He wrote me up gave me that slip of pink paper and said go see the Principal. Snatched it from his hand, about face, eyeballs were on me.

I showed him, great, he'll leave me alone now. I got suspended I think for a week.  Big deal, that was like a vacation sure, was not a deterrent. Something that would be a deterrent if they said something like you have an extra week of school, now that would be punishment. 

A week on the streets then back in that class I had to go. Up those stairs looking at the door heading for the back chair at a quick pace. Did I tell you I had long hair? 

That Mr. Copeland he did something that was not in my survival book.  Something I wasn't expecting: he blinded sided me. He came out of nowhere, he came from the left, he came from the right at the same time. He did it with little effort and no might. He was nice to me. To me? Holy guacamole! Eat a chip with wasabi that you thought was guacamole. Nobody's nice to me. 

My Head Starts spinning I'm looking for an answer to all this, my mind runs home, I would have got the beat down when my foot crossed the front door, yes I remember when I got the broom stick before when I closed the front door, surely wouldn't have got a smile??? 

 

Hold on hold on, how about,

outside the front door is better than inside the front door, where the rough and tough fight all night and the nice get their wallets cleaned. 

A different set of rules for our playground called the alley.  

(No not there). No nice. 

 

How about?

The bus rides to school,

step aboard 

voices whisper 

necks play twister 

fingers shoot, 

behind the chair me in my black soot. 

(No nice there).

 

Wait how about at school?

My classmates that shine 

throwing daggers from behind

 my clothes have holes. 

(No nice). Hmm maybe at a Christian school?

No street smarts on this one! Solo time. Free fall.

Well now what do I do? I've got no reason to run away from someone being nice to me? I have no idea why he was nice. What did I do to him that he would do this to me? I don't know where he learned that from. Most homo sapiens  react with tit for tat. That is in the rule book! I guess I’ll ride it out with my arms crossed. 

It turns out Mr. Copeland was kind to us all that were on the Mr. Copeland boat. Life Boat. We became a family, us the students, teachers aids (Mrs. Nolan and Mrs. Oaklar) and the captain of the ship Mr. Copeland! Blow the horn hooo hoooooo. The best family I had at that time. Maybe we all felt the same, cant say for sure. He was a foundation, supportive, of helping us learn with a double portion of  patience and understanding. He never raised his voice or made a disapproving face. Come to think about it, even when he wrote me up and sent me to the  principal's office. (What is his angle? What is he getting at of all this? My arms drop). 

He was going to get us to the finish line. At the end of tenth grade I was tested and my grade levels went up by 3. He gave us all cake and ice cream on are Birthdays. A party! Wow.  I did not get birthday parties at home because of limited funds. No one to blame, that is just the way it was. Not really excited about birthday parties, others yea, give me a hat and a noise maker and let's shout for joy! But me, mmm, I will take a seat in the back. 

When I was in need of a car to get my driver’s licenses, that was a very note worthy event in a teenager’s life, he drove me with his car to DMV. It was a stick shift that made passing the driving test harder, but I passed the first time! Yea. He left the class door always open so we could go to the safe room anytime. 

At the end of High School all that graduated got to camp out at Paradise Cove right on the beach where he and his wife  lived, for the weekend, he supplied all that we need it. I remember my first somemores yum yum! Lots of fun! And yes I wanted some more. 

Mr. Copland gave us what we all were missing.

LOVE! To love the unloved.  ( Motley crew kick them to the  

                                                              dew, not with Mr. Copland).

 

Now that is the power of kindness!

It does not have to be big. A smile is kindness. Kind word, a friendly voice is kindness, opening a door, getting a chair, handing out food, giving some time, listening to someone to show you care is kindness.

 That makes change. 

You may never see the seeds of your kindness blossom to a bouquet of beauty that touches other lives, but it is there.   I bear witness. 

It took time to realized that Copeland’s life boat shield me for moments so I could heal. A hot blanket that warmed my soul, sopped the tears and stoped the bleeding.   

I thank God the most high for having Mr. Copeland put in my path of life at a time most needed. God’s providence! Saved my soul. 

I wanted to thank Mr. Copeland for the love he freely gave at his expanse that altered my awareness that led to a higher degree of life for me and others I try to help, in part for remembrances of him. 

As we grow in Christ we are to become like Christ, 

I felt Christ in that class room. 

Searched for the man. But he moved. Tears fell.

 

Be kind change a life. Be bold sow some seeds.

J C

The Truth

The 

Way

The 

Life

                                                                 Psalm 16-8