One thing our bike trips teach us is that kind people surround us. Our towns and cities are built for automobiles, not pedestrians. So one common way people show us kindness is by driving us places when we arrive by bike. Yesterday, Mujahid, our friend from my Sprint days, drove about 90 minutes to pick us up and bring us back to his house for a meal. We suggested taking an Uber, but he insisted. That was so kind of him. His wife, Saba, fed us a wonderful Pakistani meal. Then, after visiting with them in their home, both Mujahid and Saba drove us back to our Airbnb. Again, we were ready to take an Uber, but they kindly insisted on driving us. We loved having the extra time with them, and their sacrifice made it more special.

As we think back on our many bike trips, we realize that being put in a situation where we need to depend on others helps us recognize the kindness around us and be more aware of opportunities in our daily lives to reach out and help others. Biking is good therapy in this way. We learn to be better givers and more gracious receivers.

I notice grace when I compliment one of my grandchildren. When I say, “Your hair looks beautiful,” instead of demurring and saying, “No, it doesn’t,” they say, “Thank you.” (Often under the gentle encouragement of their mothers.) Th is response is a gift back to me, the giver of the compliment.

Arthur Brooks published an essay in The Atlantic titled “To Make Someone Happy, Ask for Help.” In it he says:

Generosity is like the circulation of the blood, healthiest and best when it goes around and around.

In Brooks’ article, he discusses research showing the mental health benefits of receiving help. Of course, it can be overdone to the point of becoming needy or a burden, but when balanced with giving, receiving can positively affect our character. At the very end, Brooks explains how you can make this happen, even in circumstances that seem impossible. Thinking about the case when someone living on the street asks for support or food, Brooks had a thoughtful approach to offering them the dignity of giving:

After buying a man in the street food, before I turned to leave, I asked, “Will you, please, pray for me and my family?” His face initially registered shock at my request, but he readily agreed to it. I happen to believe, as many religions teach, that God hears the cries of the poor—so I consider that I got a great deal more than I gave that day. You don’t need to share my religious beliefs to understand, I’m sure, how the exchange gave me an opportunity to show the warm respect from accepting a kindness that every person needs and deserves.

As I think about this example, I am reminded of the Savior’s response to a woman anointing His feet with oil. He didn’t necessarily need the kind gift, some with Him were indignant, but He graciously accepted it and said to His disciples,

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Throughout His life, He demonstrated grace in both giving and receiving. Our experiences on our bike trips encourage us to be more like Him.