Day 250, September 7

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late."--Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I ran across this quote, I knew I had to include it in the blog. Emerson's words remain as relevant today as they did more than a century ago.

Let me share a story with you. I had planned to take one of my books to an elderly lady in our church (she had expressed interest in them). "Tomorrow," I told myself. The trouble was, tomorrow never arrived; tomorrow kept being put off. And then I learned that the lady died. My sorrow over her passing was nearly exceeded by my disappointment in myself. I had the opportunity to make a difference, albeit a small one, in another's life. And I failed to make use of it.

I can't remember the reasons I had for putting off taking the book to her. What I do remember was the lively interest in her eyes when she asked me about my writing.

Since that incident, I've tried to do better. When I have the impulse to write a note to a friend, I try to act on it right then. Too many times, though, I fail to tollow through on good intentions. I fall prey to the "tomorrow trap."

Fortunately, I am surrounded by caring friends who do follow through, who extend kindnesses, both large and small, to me and to others.

So, for today, I am grateful for those people who "do a kindness too soon."