As virtually the whole world knows by now, Pope Francis has died. One of the hallmarks of his reign was his compassion and kindness.

In today’s world, many of us are growing weary of all the turmoil and trouble assaulting our senses nearly everywhere we turn. Is there no relief or respite from all the chaos and cruelty?

As we were writing this post, I was reminded of a time long ago, when I was growing up in New York State. One of our neighbors and family friends was an old Italian shoe repairman, Louie. He was no ordinary shoe guy, no ordinary man.

Our families had been friends for many years, having both immigrated from Italy in the early 1900s.

Louie was a dwarf, barely three feet tall, and also a hunchback who walked with a painful limp. Yet he was about the most cheerful, compassionate man I’ve ever known.

As kids, we  used to love going into his shop just to visit. He always had a kind word and a knowing twinkle in his eye, especially if something was troubling us. He was a great listener, compassionate and caring

Louie was popular for his bright-eyed kindness. Nearly everyone in town knew and loved him.

Louie was also an expert shoe repair man, his work being highly regarded all over our rural area. Although he went to church every Sunday, as most Italian families did, he wasn’t particularly religious.

But he not only healed soles, he healed souls. His shoe repair business was only a sideline. His true profession was as a healer and teacher to all who were fortunate enough to know him. The hallmark of his character was kindness.

Here are some of the lessons I learned from Louie about kindness. I’ve carried these memories with me ever since those long-ago days.

• When you walked into Louie’s shop, you felt almost as if you’d entered another dimension. His energy was palpable and radiated throughout his shop.
• As soon as you were in the door, Louie gave you his full attention.
• He was always genuinely interested in what was going on in his customers’ lives.
• Louie was a great listener. You always knew his heart was as open as his door. You always had his full attention.
• He never preached or gave advice unless you asked for it.
• Even then, his advice was always kind. He never criticized you, or anyone else.
• Louie was no saint, but he sure knew how to uplift people’s spirits.
• He was a healer of human hearts without really knowing what he was doing.
• You never left his shop feeling down or depressed, even if that’s what you were feeling when you walked in.
• It wasn’t what he did or said that made a difference, but who he was. His being was far more powerful than his doing.

Do you have anyone like Louie in your life? If you do, you are richly blessed.

This video, at just over 7 minutes long, is much longer than we usually have. But we think you will enjoy the powerful message it carries,

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