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Commentary: In praise of cookies and big hearts

Certificate of Kindness WEB
Five-year-old Eli Hoffman holds a Certificate of Kindness his family received on Feb. 26 at the Innisfail Seniors Drop-In Centre after he, his younger brother Carter and mom brought a gift of five dozen homemade sugar cookies to local seniors. Johnnie Bachusky/MVP Staff

It is sometimes challenging during these tumultuous times to smile broadly in our troubled world, especially when there is so much angry finger pointing going on from people who are supposed to be leaders.

Call the scribbler silly if you want, but leadership should be about being a channel for peace, a greater sense of purpose, self-worth and hope for a better future.

Instead, our leaders today are mostly angry and accusatory. The recent Teck Resources pullout is proof of that. There was finger pointing everywhere from both the right and left flanks.

There is a sense, though, a good chunk of Alberta’s electorate are getting tired of it. The Teck disappointment did not set off the toxic rage and loony calls for separation we heard following the past federal election. Perhaps fatigue is setting in. Anger, after all, has nowhere to go.

But in Innisfail, hope arrived on Feb. 26 at the local seniors drop-in centre. That hope came from mom Karla Hoffman and her two boys: five-year-old Eli and his four-year-old kid brother Carter.

They were invited to come by Jennifer Wood, the town’s local dementia friendly community coordinator, and Coun. Jean Barclay, a longtime passionate advocate for seniors.

Two weeks earlier the family trio, noting the national Random Acts of Kindness Day was on Feb. 17, baked dozens of sugar cookies for their neighbours. The family went door knocking in their neighbourhood bearing gifts. But incredibly most households turned their backs on them. Eli cried all the way home.

But kindness and love would not be shut out. Mom and her boys did not give up. They got past the hurt and baked more cookies. They then brought their gifts to Innisfail seniors last week. The trio gave love and the seniors gave it right back.

The trio’s gesture will not be forgotten. It would be better still if many more take notice of how such a seemingly small gesture can make such a huge difference for the lives of many.

Perhaps our politicians can learn a lesson here.

They don’t have to bake cookies, but they can at least make a small conciliatory gesture here and there.

And then, and only then, can the anger stop.

Johnnie Bachusky is the editor of the Innisfail Province.

 

 

 


Johnnie Bachusky

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