One of the virtues our Founding Fathers are known for, is Kindness. Thomas Jefferson was known to receive visitors to the President’s Mansion without prior announcement or request. He was always polite and gracious to his visitors.

George Washington likewise entertained drop-in guests at Mount Vernon and served them delicious meals and cheerful reunions.

Benjamin Franklin was always very diplomatic. He treated everyone like an equal.

Kindness can have its rewards. I’m reminded of a client I had in my 37 years of Estate Planning. This one divorced man was very quiet but polite in all situations. His name was Ray. On one visit he told me of a kind and respectful young cashier he had met at the local Safeway grocery store where he shopped weekly. He was divorced and wanted some specific bequests made in his small trust. He didn’t own much in the way of assets.

Ray lived alone and to my knowledge he didn’t have any family or many close acquaintances. In his trust he left a specific gift of $50,000.00 to this young Safeway cashier. (He also left me his library, including some 45 books about Abraham Lincoln.)

It was an interesting day after Ray passed away. I was appointed to settle his estate. I went to the Safeway store and asked to visit with the young cashier—her name was Gail. I sat on a bench and waited for Gail to have one of her standard breaks. She came over to meet me—we hadn’t met previously. I told her that Ray had passed away. She responded with sadness that she would miss his many trips to the store, when she would sometimes sit and talk with him on a break. She was always kind to Ray, and I told her he appreciated it.

She had been happy to be a friend to Ray. But she was amazed and surprised when I handed her a check payable to her in the sum of $50,000.00!! She had never seen so much money. She cried and gave me a hug for delivering the unexpected gift.

It pays to be nice, be kind, be sweet, and be gentle!