Humble and Kind

I recently came across the video of Tim McGraw's hit song from a few years ago, 'Humble and Kind.'

I have never been a fan of country music, but I loved this song the first time I heard it, both for its message and for its music. I see this song as a reminder that no matter who we are or what our status is, it costs nothing to be humble and kind.

Even celebrities can be humble and kind. Former president Jimmy Carter and his late wife Roslyn, superstar singer/songwriter/actress Dolly Parton, and singer/songwriter Taylor Swift immediately come to mind when I think of people who are humble and kind.

The Carters continued to build houses for Habitat for Humanity well into their 90s. Parton is well known for her philanthropy. She created the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee to provide jobs in the poverty-stricken area where she grew up. And because her father never learned to read and write, she created the Imagination Library, which sends a free, age-appropriate book each month to children from birth through 5 years of age.  My grandson is a recipient of a monthly book that my daughter reads to him. 

Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University to help create the Moderna covid vaccine. She gave another $1 million to the Vanderbilt children's hospital.

As part of Dollywood, she opened the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary that is managed by the American Eagle Foundation to help protect America's national symbol.

Swift has been making large donations to local food banks in the cities where she holds her sold-out concerts. She donated $4million to build the music education center at the Country Music Hall of Fame. She has thrown her massive voice behind LBGTQ rights. In recent years, she helped a boy with autism get a service dog, helped with the medical bills for a fan with cancer, and a family struggling to make ends meet. She also pitched in to help two mothers keep up with rent and she helped support a Covid widow with five children.

And then there is the previous US president, who used money supposedly earmarked for eight charities by his foundation (now closed by court order) to fund his political campaign. No one could ever accuse him of being humble or kind.

Fortunately for the world, it's definitely possible to be world famous and wealthy while remaining humble and Kind. Each of us, regardless of our status in life, can do our part to be humble and kind.