Before leaving on a recent trip, my husband and I went to lunch with some friends we’ve known for a good many years. As we shared a meal and visited, I was reminded of the importance of friendship. Not only have we spent many hours visiting with these friends over time, but we’ve helped each other during times of need, and lifted one another up in prayer.

Then, more recently, while my husband and I were on our trip, we ran into some of Amish friends from Indiana. Spending the day with them, and sharing a meal, we and had a great time visting these special friends and getting caught up on one another’s lives. That afternoon I shared a prayer request with my Amish friend, and she shared one with me. It’s a comfort and a blessing to know that we have special friends–Amish and English–whom we can count on for support.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 17:17 that a friend loveth at all times. How thankful I am for all of my friends. Have you done something for one of your friends lately? Has one of them done something special for you?

Having recently visited Hawaii, I was impressed by the Hawaiin culture and the traditions that have been passed from generation to generation. Many of the Hawaiin people are talented artists, making jewelry with beads, shells and various types of seeds. Some do wood carving, and some people make beautiful quilts and wall hangings.

In many ways the Hawaiin people remind me of my Amish friends, whose culture is based on the traditions and values of their forefathers. The Amish are also talented at their crafts, many of which include woodworking and quilt making.

In my own family, we have certain traditions that have been passed down from our parents and grandparents. It is these traditions that have molded and shaped us into who we are. My husband’s heritage is German, and on my mother’s side, I also have a German heritage. One particular tradition for me is making stuffed cabbage rolls, which my mother called “Galoushka”. Whenever I fix stuffed cabbage rolls I think about all the times my mother made it for our family when I was a girl. I also made sure to teach our daughter how to make the cabbage rolls so she could continue with our family tradition.

What traditions do you have in your family? How have those traditions impacted your life?

When Meredith, the heroine in my upcoming Discovery series, was faced with hard times, several friends and family members offered her acts of kindness, which helped get Meredith through some great difficulties.

During the holiday season, my husband, Richard, sent one of his cousins a copy of his photography book, “A Portrait of Amish Life,” along with one of his 2013 Amish Country Calendars. Little did he know that the same day the gifts arrived was the anniversary of the death of his cousin’s father, and she was feeling down. She called and told Richard that the unexpected gift lifted her spirits and helped get her through the day.

We may never know what impact our acts of kindness have had on someone’s life. That’s why it’s important to think of others–especially during the holidays. What acts of kindness have you done for someone recently? Or what acts of kindness were done to you?