For the nuns of the Little Sisters of the Poor, kindness is a discipline that is its own reward. But occasionally, their acts of kindness yield more tangible fruit.<\/p>\n\n
The sisters operate a hospice called St. Martin’s Home, and were at a big box retailer purchasing Christmas gifts for the elderly residents and staff. While they wheeled their cart through the parking lot, they were approached by a stranger with an offer to help load the gifts into the trunk of their car.<\/p>\n\n
“We just thought it was a good Samaritan and he was there out the willingness of his heart and the holiday spirit," said sister Caroline Joseph. Sister Bernadette made sure to thank him for his efforts.<\/p>\n\n
“I said, 'Gee, you did that so quickly! I can't tell you how grateful we are that you helped us.' And I shook his hand and I said, 'God bless you, and I surely will pray for you.'"<\/p>\n\n
The stranger moved fast for a reason; upon their return, the nuns opened the trunk and found half of their gifts missing. But before they could file a police report, a store rep called to report that their gifts were spotted in a cart on the far side of the parking lot. The sisters’ theory is that the thief was so moved by their words of gratitude that he couldn’t finish the job.<\/p>\n\n
Kindness sincerely expressed can stir goodness in even those who intend evil. Repentance is not just regret, but changing our outward actions to match our inward change of heart.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/h2>","protected":false},"author":128,"featured_media":0,"template":"","tax_ctp_audience":[],"tax_ctp_authors":[],"tax_ctp_categories":[165],"tax_ctp_format":[171],"tax_ctp_illustration_types":[411],"tax_ctp_multimedia":[],"tax_ctp_point_editor":[],"tax_publications":[140],"tax_ctp_tags":[3387,3600,3675,3691,3905,4110,4321,4546,4788,4801,4805,4919,4977,5022,5076,5150],"tax_ctp_topics":[395],"class_list":["post-38957","sermon-illustrations","type-sermon-illustrations","status-publish","hentry","tax_publications-ct-pastors","tax_ctp_tags-advent","tax_ctp_tags-christmas","tax_ctp_tags-consecration","tax_ctp_tags-conviction-of-sin","tax_ctp_tags-evil-activity","tax_ctp_tags-guilt","tax_ctp_tags-kindness","tax_ctp_tags-news-that-illustrates","tax_ctp_tags-regret","tax_ctp_tags-remorse","tax_ctp_tags-repentance","tax_ctp_tags-self-examination","tax_ctp_tags-sin","tax_ctp_tags-sorrow","tax_ctp_tags-stealing","tax_ctp_tags-theft"],"acf":{"scripture_references":[{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null}]},"yoast_head":"\n