Yet, despite those protesters from the Key of David Christian Church, I found love that day. After the initial meeting, I was so angry that I decided to treat people at the skating rink with kindness. I have Blue Cross insurance and can get in for free, I can get up to four other people in for free as well. I treated a mother and her young son to a day of skating, free of charge. The little boy had to be four or five years old, he thanked me up and down since he was so excited. I saw him throughout the day, he kept waving to me, and said, “thank you again, nice lady. I am having fun!”
Looking back, my heart is melting, but anger from being sick (beginning of the cold) and those hateful people, I didn’t pay that any mind last week. Maybe if I did and maybe if I was not in the throes of illness, it might have prevented me from reacting to when the Key of David people came into the rink to disrupt everyone. I doubt it because I feel strongly about hatred and I will stand up to hatred. Unfortunately, my ideas of hugging bigots to see the light (I often thought about doing that with ISIS and those who suicide bomb – hug them to stop the attacks, read them Holy Book verses to show them they are wrong in their thinking) and sharing verses won’t work because their ideologies are too twisted. They will have to seek enlightenment on their own if they choose to ever come to the light.
| Anyway, at one point I was chatting with a woman about my frustrations and she said, “God is love. At the end of the day, we need to accept people as they are.” Too true. I was raised to love and every day I’m grateful for that. This woman gave me a big hug and reassured me. |
Despite the darkness, light can come out of it and light can brighten a dark moment.
Oh yes, before I even went to the rink, I have to call out some kindness. On the el, I asked a gentleman in front of me if he had any tissues because my nose was like a sieve. He didn’t, but someone in another seat overheard me and handed me a bunch of napkins. I thanked him. Again, I will choose to focus on these moments going forward.
The Happiness Box Project 
Hi, Jessica Marie!
I am proud of you for finding it in your heart to turn a bad day around by paying it forward, not the hatred you encountered, but the love and goodwill that is inside you. You created a win-win when you went out of your way to show kindness to strangers. That’s what we all could and should be doing to heal and unite a polarized America and a hostile, divided world. Instead too many people respond to hate by hating right back. That’s no way to live. Come from hate and you will encounter many enemies. Keep coming from unconditional love and you will find friends everywhere you go.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, dear friend JM!
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Hi Shady,
I’m hoping that eventually this project will reach others and pass it forward. That is why I started the initiative and I am thinking of asking the library I work for about putting up a display about this project and initiative.
Have a great weekend as well, dear friend!
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