Thoughts—Kindness	
QUICK CHECK:	
It was grandfather’s 
birthday.  He was 
79.  He got up early, 
shaved, showered, 
combed his hair and 
put on his Sunday 
best so he would 
look nice when they 
came.
He skipped his daily 	
walk to the town café where he had coffee with his 
cronies.  He wanted to be home when they came.
He put his porch chair on the sidewalk so he could 
get a better view of the street when they drove up to 
help celebrate his birthday. 
At noon he got tired but decided to forgo his nap so 
he could be there when they came.  
Most of the rest of the afternoon he spent near the 
telephone so he could answer it when they called.
He has five married children, 13 grandchildren, and 
three great-grandchildren.  One son and daughter 
live within ten miles of his place.  
They hadn’t visited him for a long time.  But today 
was his birthday, and they were sure to come.
At suppertime he left the cake untouched so they 
could cut it and have dessert with him.
After supper he sat on the porch waiting.
At 8:30 he went to his room to prepare for bed.  
Before retiring he left a note on the door, which 
read, "Be sure to wake me up when you come."
It was grandfather’s birthday.  He was 79.
   —Author unknown	
If you are ever going to love me,
Love me now while I can know,
The sweet and tender feelings,
Which from true affection flow.	
Love me now,
While I am living.	
Do not wait until I am gone,	
And then have it chiseled in marble.	
Sweet words on ice-cold stone.	
Please tell me now.	
If you wait until I’m sleeping,	
Never to awaken,	
There will be death between us,	
And I won’t hear you then.	
So, if you love me even a little bit,
Let me know it while I am living,	
So I can treasure it.	
Through this toilsome world, alas!
Once and only once I pass.
If a kindness I may show,
If a good deed I may do,
To a suffering fellow man,
Let me do it while I can.
No delay, for it is plain,
I shall not pass this way again. 
Kindness is more important than wisdom; and the 
recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.
    —Theodore Rubin
1. a) What did the grandfather hope for his 
 birthday?  b) What happened?  c) Why do you 	
think people forget to remember others?	
2. According to the poem at the top right, why 	
should a person speak kind words today?	
3. According to the next poem, why should a 
 person do good deeds while he can, no delay?
4. Rubin: What is more important than wisdom?
5. List one thing that you can do today to give 	
kindness to another person. 
Thoughts & Quotes