Be kind to one another. Ephesians 4:2

Rona felt good. Her surgery was successful and she'd be going home from hospital in a couple of days. 'Thank You, Lord,' she prayed. 'Please help me to be a blessing to somebody here in hospital.'

An hour later, another girl was brought into Rona's ward and placed on the next bed. The girl looked puzzled and frightened.

'Hello,' Rona said. 'I'm Rona. What's your name?' She waited, but the girl didn't answer. Rona tried again. 'What school do you attend?' No reply. Just a stare.

At first, Rona felt a bit angry. Then she remembered her own prayer. 'Lord, help me to be a blessing to somebody here in hospital.' So she kept talking to the girl who seemed to relax a little but didn't say one word.

In the afternoon, the girl's mother came to visit. As she passed Rona's bed, she smiled and said hello. When she got to her daughter's bed, she lifted her hands and began to speak in sign language. Her daughter did the same and seemed to have an awful lot to say.

Turning, the mother noticed Rona staring with her mouth wide open. 'My daughter's name is Penny. Penny was born deaf,' she said. 'Penny tells how kind you have been and how much you helped her to get through this day.'

Rona smiled at the girl and said, 'Please ask Penny if she will teach me some sign language when your visit is over.'

How glad Rona was that she hadn't become angry.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be a blessing to people in my life. For Jesus' sake. Amen.