Column: Roll up with kindness like a good book in the coming year

As a child of the Gothic Southern Appalachians, the screeching echoes of hard times and the harsh sound of saying goodbye to loved ones were a constant roar in my ear.

I am no stranger to worries that settle deep in the bone marrow or tears that flow from deeply hidden places in my heart.

Death’s Angel has had too many visitors over the past year. Church after church, grave after grave, scripture after scripture, our tears have left a trail that turned the hard dirt into a puddle of soft earth that threatened to give way under the weight of our being.

We are not alone. Many have suffered similarly. We often saw the same faces when the organ music played sadly and we took our places among the bereaved.

Through the struggles, the grief, the setbacks and even the joys and triumphs, I have often noticed: the urgent need for more friendliness, understanding and patience.

It’s not a resolution. It’s a determination. I already started. I take a moment to talk to strangers in grocery stores about soccer teams that are winning. And those who lose.

If the phone company sends a $ 5 bill too much, I ask, “Is it worth the hassle? The tension in my voice? ”And since there has been one problem after the other with the same company for years, the word“ thieves ”often slips indecently into my complaints.

I am always kinder with my judgments. I’ve made tremendous strides in not holding people accountable when they lack papa’s candor, mom’s common sense, Pawpaw’s unyielding belief, or my nephew’s unerring work ethic and keen eye for handling a dollar bill.

To the best of my knowledge and belief, I will not score today’s libraries against those of my youth, or librarians against the literary geniuses who have so skillfully guided me through the Dewey decimal system.

Myra Taylor, Ann Dayton, and “Miss Jean” Gilreath were platinum standards that everyone invested in, not just the well-being of library visitors, especially the youth, but the world itself. They spoiled me because I never asked a question that they couldn’t answer.

The bestseller lists? You could quote the top ten. Where can you read about horses? Within minutes they returned with stacks of magazines. Their heads were filled with book suggestions, both classic and modern.

Our high school was modern. At that time. The library was at the end of the hall and had no doors to close it from those who wanted or needed it. It was wide open and inviting. The center was a two-tier, sunken area with round tables that were used for study or club meetings after school.

With its bright orange and green decor, it was my favorite place. I can still smell all of these books and I see Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Dayton beaming smiles as they greeted me warmly.

One day I was in the back row of books. I always checked out several at once. Petite Mrs. Taylor, with her strawberry-red hair and more freckles than I had, spun around the corner.

“What are you reading?” She pulled the book from my hand, then frowned disapprovingly. It was a Victorian love secret from Victoria Holt. She shook her head. “You can do better. You are smart and should feed your mind. Come with me.”

In ten minutes she had pulled four books off the shelves and explained why I should read each one. I took them all. And the book by Victoria Holt, to which she agreed with a sigh because I promised to read the others.

These are difficult times. So trying in other ways, like the desperation of the mountains of the 1930s. Yet we should strive for exceptional kindness, forbearance, and empathy.

I think Mrs. Dayton once gave me a book to read.

Ronda Rich is a bestselling author of several books, including What Southern Women Know About Faith. Sign up for their newsletter at www.rondarich.com. Your column appears weekly.

The post Column: Roll up with kindness like a good book in the coming year first appeared on Daily Florida Press.