A Small Act of Kindness
By Joyce Anne Geronimo
Written March 17, 2020
I woke up just like any other day in the comfort of my bed, knowing that the rest of my family were at home, safe and sound. It is the second day of the community quarantine in Metro Manila, a directive of the Philippine Government in its effort to contain the Coronavirus.
I went on with my daily routine. I prayed and thanked God for another day, then checked the news. My heart broke. I realized that due to the “enhanced community quarantine” that the President issued a day before, thousands of Filipinos were stranded in different city borders and terminals. Getting a good night’s sleep and waking up with my family was a luxury for me and some of my fellow countrymen. I cried at this realization and asked the Lord, “Lord, what can I do to help?”
I am not from a wealthy family, but I am certain that my family is doing well compared to others. I thought, “What if we gave food to these stranded people?”
I wasn’t entirely sure of their situation, but if they were stranded at city borders and transportation terminals since the night before, they were probably exhausted and hungry, especially with a lot of establishments closed. Giving food would be the least that I could do to help and show these people that someone cared for them— not just me, but more so Jesus. Because I love the Lord, I would have the heart to love His people, too.
I called a few friends and asked them if they would like to help me put this plan into action. Fortunately, I have very supportive friends! They went out with me to buy bread, tuna, and mayonnaise. We made tuna sandwiches to be distributed to the people stranded at the PITX. We also gave them vitamin C tablets. Because there was a surplus of sandwiches and vitamin Cs, we were also able to give our supply to street dwellers, people who have been walking miles to get home, and to the soldiers and men in uniform who were on duty.
Our light should shine bright during dark times. What we had wasn’t much, but we were able to help. It may have been small, but it mattered. It mattered to me, to the few people that we were able to reach, and above all, it mattered to God. It matters to Him when we take care of each other. Our actions, no matter how small, if done in love matters much.
With this in mind, I want to challenge you. Ask yourself this, “What can I do to help?” It doesn’t have to be grand. Sometimes, kindness is as simple as praying for our frontliners. Other times, kindness is spreading words of encouragement and positivity to people. Kindness can look like giving your neighbor, who is least fortunate, food for the day. Or perhaps you can give food to the guard or the janitor in your building. What about the street vendor near your house? There are a lot of ways to express kindness (just be sure that we take safety measures when we go out to help).
Editor’s Note: Because the quarantine has stepped up and the danger of infection is real, we urge people to stay at home. Giving to others, especially to the frontliners, should be done with utmost wisdom and precaution.
Joyce Anne Geronimo
A jittery writer who wrestles away
the fear of what others may say.
I yearn to explode like fireworks lighting the midnight sky
To color the monotonous air with lines and rhyme.
I trace the trail to forever and a day…
