It was a lazy, Summer’s day several years ago. I was walking my dog in the backyard when suddenly I heard, “Meow! Meow! Meow!” coming from the sky above me. I looked up and saw that my neighbor’s fat, orange tomcat had gotten himself stuck near the top of my Maple tree. I was a lot younger, fitter, and not as easily breakable back then so after I put my dog back in the house started to climb the tree to rescue the cat. Carefully I scooped him in one arm and gently made my way back down to the ground. As soon as I set my feet on the grass, though, the cat leapt from my arms and couldn’t run away from me fast enough.

Several days later, however, when I was walking to my car I saw an orange blur run up to me and walk between my legs purring happily. I smiled and reached down to scratch the head of my new friend. And as I did I remembered the story of another cat. It was from the Aesop’s fable of THE LION AND THE MOUSE that I used to read to my daughter when she was a little girl. In it a lion caught a mouse one day but instead of eating it, he kindly let it go because it was so small. Then several months later the lion was caught in a hunter’s huge net. He roared in fear and anger but couldn’t get free. And who should come to his rescue by chewing through the ropes of the net but the mouse. I especially loved the moral of the story: “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

Kindness like Love is far more important than power, or money, or success. Kindness gives you joy. Kindness helps others. Kindness makes this world a better place. Kindness brings you closer to God. Be kind then. No act of kindness is too small. No act of kindness is ever wasted. Every act of kindness is priceless in God’s eyes. Even rescuing a fat, foolish tomcat from a tree can make all of Heaven smile.