document.open(); document.writeln(""); document.writeln("Simple Acts of Kindness
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Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend"); document.writeln("forsakes the fear of the Almighty.1

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While walking home from school, Mark noticed the boy"); document.writeln("ahead of him had stumbled to the ground and dropped everything he was carrying."); document.writeln("Mark hurried to the boy\'€™s side and helped him collect his belongings."); document.writeln("Surprisingly, the boy was carrying an especially hefty load. There was a"); document.writeln("baseball glove and bat, a couple of sweaters, a small tape recorder, and an"); document.writeln("armful of books. Mark helped him carry the things home and his new friend,"); document.writeln("Bill, was most appreciative of his compassion. During the walk home, Mark"); document.writeln("discovered Bill was struggling in school and had just broken up with his"); document.writeln("girlfriend. When they arrived at Bill\'€™s house, he invited Mark in for a Coke"); document.writeln("and they spent the rest of the afternoon talking, laughing, and watching TV."); document.writeln("Although the two boys never became real close friends, they kept up with each"); document.writeln("other throughout the rest of junior high and high school. Several weeks before"); document.writeln("graduation, Bill approached Mark and asked him if he remembered that day they"); document.writeln("met when Mark helped him with all of his stuff. Mark nodded as he remembered."); document.writeln("Bill then asked, \'€œDid you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things that"); document.writeln("day?\'€ Without pausing for an answer, Bill explained he had cleaned out his"); document.writeln("locker and was going home to take his life. He had been storing away sleeping"); document.writeln("pills and was headed home to end it all when Mark happened along to help him"); document.writeln("out. Bill told Mark how that simple act of compassion inspired him to go on"); document.writeln("living. He said, \'€œMark, when you picked up my books that day, you saved my"); document.writeln("life!\'€

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Imagine how many times our small, seemingly"); document.writeln("insignificant acts of kindness or concern for others may be just the thing that"); document.writeln("person needs to continue on. The burdens of life can sometimes be too much to"); document.writeln("carry alone, but with the love and kindness of one friend, it can make that"); document.writeln("load so much lighter. Be alert to those around you and ask God to help you be as"); document.writeln("Jesus to them.

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Suggested prayer: Dear God, each day I see dozens of"); document.writeln("people and have no way of knowing the struggles they may be carrying. I ask"); document.writeln("that you fill me with compassion and that the simplest acts of kindness would"); document.writeln("be used by you to give someone hope. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer."); document.writeln("In Jesus\'€™ name, amen.

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  1. Job 6:14 (NIV).

  2. Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield and Mark"); document.writeln("Hansen, 1993, p. 35

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 Today\'s Encounter was written by: Crystal B. 

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This and other devotionals by Richard (Dick) Innes can be read online.

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