Born To Be Kind

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into a flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light."

~Albert Schweitzer ~
 
This week, Linda and I joined 100 other firefighters at 6 Flags Over Texas for Denton State School Days.  Denton State School is an institution in North Texas that cares for and houses 580 severely to profoundly mentally retarded (their phrase, not mine) individuals.  http://www.dentonstateschool.org/.  Once a year, these mentally challenged individuals get to spend a day at the amusement park, escorted primarily by Dallas firefighters and their families.  Our job is to assist in lifting, joining them on rides, etc. 
 
It works kinda like this.  We all stand in a line and wait for the residents to get off a bus and we "choose" one of them to chaperone for the day.  Some are reasonably self-sufficient.  They can walk and communicate fairly well.  Others are wheelchair-bound and can barely speak if they can even make a sound.  It's difficult to choke back the sadness at times, but then you see them get off the bus for that annual day of excitement and the smile on their faces says it all.
 
I'll call the resident we escorted this year, "Lucy" to protect her identity.  Lucy was a 50-something woman with horrible teeth and graying hair pulled back in a cute little pony tail.  Lucy was "hearing impaired" (I'll get to that in a second) and used her own sign language to communicate.  Lucy could not speak, but was able to make loud, um......groans.  She walked on her own and was actually pretty quick on her feet.  Sometimes a little too quick.  But the most incredible thing about Lucy wasn't the quickness of her feet, it was the depth of her kindness.  Lucy loved to hug.
 
When she was first introduced to Linda, Lucy gave her a hug that I thought was going to require a rescue.  Then I received one of a similar nature.  Lucy randomly selected people from all over the park, and gave them a hug or shook their hand.  There were hundreds of high school kids at the park that day, and many were lucky enough to receive a hug from Lucy.  And if you're wondering what kind of kids we're raising today, I can tell you.  Not one single kid, although clearly surprised at first, was unresponsive to Lucy.  They were quick to hug back or shake her hand and give her a smile.  In fact, everyone I saw who came in contact with Lucy left with a smile. 
 
Lucy was a "teacher" and I learned much from her.  Some of it was actually comical.  First of all, Lucy COULD hear.  I would call her hearing "selective".  She used a precious form of sign language that most of us were able to begin to understand by the end of the day.  And if you DIDN'T quite get it, Lucy was quick to smack you three times on the shoulder and point to what she wanted.  She was very effective. Lucy taught me that everyone can offer kindness and everyone deserves to receive it.  She wasn't prejudice in her gift of hugging. Everyone was welcome to Lucy's embrace.
 
I've been a participant in Denton State School Days many times throughout my career and I've noticed something each time.  This isn't a scientific study, but has certainly been my observation each and every time.  Almost without exception, the people from this institution, profoundly challenged and unable to care for themselves, are kind.  They are warm, loving, and just plain adorable.  Why is that?  Have you ever met a child with Down's Syndrome that wasn't also sweet and loving?  So I wonder, of course, why is it that people of this sort are so kind?  Are they born that way?  Is it part of the genetic mutation that caused their retardation?  Have they been sheltered from the perceived cynicism of real life? 
 
I don't know the answers to those questions, but I do know this.  If someone confined to a life-long institution without the ability to even feed themselves or form a sentence can be kind, so can I.  I may be a little shy yet to just walk up and hug a stranger on the street, but wouldn't it be nice?  I can still offer a handshake or even a smile and leave an impression like Lucy.  She gave me so much that day.
 
Kindness..............let's honor Lucy by passing it on.