Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
5:45 pm Friday, November 14, 2008

Making a difference with kindness

By Staff
Kim West
As I sat in the Phil Campbell High School auditorium Monday morning, I thought it was fitting that the Veteran's Day program I was covering was followed by remarks from principal Williams Smith and math teacher Karen Gilbert about the importance of kindness.
I thought it was appropriate because I had heard that morning about the Sunday passing of the school's 17-year-old homecoming queen, Shelby Grissom, who was diminutive in stature but had an oversized reputation for kindness and a positive attitude.
I have heard there was actually opposition to her inclusion on the homecoming court this year because of the possibility her terminal illness would win her so-called sympathy votes. I guess it would be easy to feel sorry for someone with her circumstances but I was also at the Bobcats' homecoming game Oct. 17, and other than a beaming smile that never seemed to leave her face, she didn't seem any different from the other representatives.
Not many of us can be as talented and poised as Tiger Woods or financially savvy as Warren Buffett. But we can all do the little things to make our daily lives more pleasant, especially since most of us struggle with similar problems, whether it be our health, financial situation or work and family demands.
Mrs. Gilbert talked about a program that was recently started at Phil Campbell called "10,000 Acts of Kindness," which has already produced more than 1,500 recorded acts of kindness since the beginning of November. She asked the students, "Why not try to make this a lot better place for all of us? It's the right thing to do, it makes us a lot better and it makes our school better."
I don't know if it was inspired by Grissom, but what better way to honor the memory of someone who was uniformly described as kind and thoughtful than to take a minute of your day and do something nice for someone else?
Abraham Joshua Heschel said, "When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people." I could name a lot of intelligent folks, but I have to think much harder to name people with truly giving spirits. When I think of Shelby Grissom, I'll think of how something as simple and free as being kind can leave a lasting impact on the people in your lives.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025