Kindness in Crisis

If there’s anything good that can come out of a crisis, it’s got to be all the acts of kindness that come to the surface, helping people cope with their losses, their emotions, their fears and concerns.

As we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, just listening to news broadcasts every day — as they provide the latest facts and figures of those suffering and dying from coronavirus — can throw a person into sadness and worry like we have never known. Along with all the frightening concerns for our physical health, we need to consider our emotional, mental and spiritual well being. It’s never been more important to take care of ourselves and each other in any way we can.

Many times, TV news shows will end with an uplifting story, something that a group or an individual has done to lift the spirits of someone else. It is much better for us all if we look for stories about acts of kindness, rather than ones that bring more bad news and cause fear.

The really cool thing is, there are stories of good things happening right here in our community, people doing “random acts of kindness” for someone else. And just hearing the stories makes us all feel better, even if we weren’t directly involved.

Worship-Filled Music. If you know- Isaac Reed, you know that one of his many talents is playing the piano. Frequently Isaac has recorded himself playing the piano and posting it to his Facebook page for those of us fortunate to be his “Friends” to enjoy. Lately, though, Isaac has added vocals to his playing, as singing is another special talent that he is gifted with.

On April 2nd, Isaac’s mother, Karen Reed, joined him in putting together a 30-minute recording of worship music which Isaac posted to Facebook Live. The evening before, after choosing their setting of the front of the sanctuary at St. Thomas Parish, Isaac posted an invitation on his Facebook feed for people to join him and his “Momma Karen” the following day at 1 p.m. when they would be live-streaming a few hymns and songs for people to enjoy.

Isaac spent time choosing the music from a Catholic songbook, selecting Easter songs as well as others that he hoped would bring comfort and peace to their listening audience. The comments, reactions and “shares” during and after their live-streaming perfor-mance that Thursday afternoon showed that they had a large group of people “tuned in” and enjoying the music. If you missed it, and if you are Facebook friends of either Isaac Reed or Karen Reed, you can still go back in their newsfeeds to listen to the music.

Isaac was inspired by an organist from St. John’s Catholic Church in Beloit who he had seen in a Facebook live stream, and he decided to do the same, although he frequently posts his talents for others to enjoy. He thought that recording it at the church rather than at his piano at home made it more prayerful.

For many of us, music heals our hearts and feeds our souls like nothing else can. This short program of worship-filled music certainly did that for all who listened. Thank you, Isaac and Karen, for sharing your talents and God’s peace and love during this difficult time.

Cheer-Filled Pillowcases. It doesn’t take much time to sew a few straight seams and, wahlah! you have a pillowcase. But when the fabrics used are bright and colorful, and they are stitched together out of love and compassion, something as simple as a pillowcase can brighten a room and certainly bring a smile.

This is what some ladies of the St. Thomas Mission Quilters — Karen Reed, Barb Record and Barb Williams — were counting on when they stitched together 30 pillowcases, using cheerful, colorful fabrics donated by the late Janet Lemon of Plainville. After finishing the pillowcases, they were delivered to the Solomon Valley Manor to “share some sunshine” with the residents there. Due to COVID-19, the Manor is closed to visitors, so residents haven’t seen family or friends for several weeks.

The rays of sunshine, delivered in the form of simple, colorful pillowcases, sent a message of love, that the residents of Solomon Valley Manor have not been forgotten.

Thank you, Karen, Barb and Barb, for giving of your time and talents to make some sunshine and smiles!

Belly-Filled Barbecue. On a whim, Scott and Christina Hamel went all out, food-truck style, and put a notice on their Facebook feed on Friday, April 3, taking orders for a full-meal BBQ deal they would be serving, cashand-carry, on Sunday evening, the 5th. In no time, the orders were flying in. The Hamels offered choice of a full rack of ribs or three pounds of pulled pork, plus sides of baked beans, potato salad and cole slaw. The real winner of the pork dinner was the Stockton Food Pantry, as the Hamels gave a portion of their proceeds to the local organization.

Thanks, Scott and Christina, for firing up the smoker and sharing good food and goodwill... please do it again soon!