Donald, That Ain’t Your Mess

Donald, That Ain’t Your Mess

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Donald, That Ain’t Your Mess
[Verse 1]
Donald and me were walking outside,
When the wind came whipping through.
Knocked a neighbor’s trash can over,
Sent the whole yard flying too.
Cups in the ditch, papers in the grass,
Something stuck up in a tree.
I said,
“Whew, Donald… what a mess.”
He looked at me.
“Yep.”
I said,
“You gonna help?”
He said,
“Dad…
That ain’t my mess.”
[Chorus]
It ain’t gotta be your mess
For you to lend a hand.
Kindness sees somebody struggling
And helps them where they stand.
Get Right in your heart,
Then Do Right when you can.
Sometimes love looks real simple—
Just stop
And lend a hand.
[Verse 2]
So I started picking papers up,
Donald followed way behind.
He carried one old paper cup
Like he’d just saved mankind.
I said,
“Donald, there’s about twenty more.”
He said,
“Dad, pace yourself.”
I laughed.
“Boy, we’re helping somebody.”
He said,
“I know.
I’m supervising.”
[Chorus]
It ain’t gotta be your mess
For you to lend a hand.
Kindness sees somebody struggling
And helps them where they stand.
Get Right in your heart,
Then Do Right when you can.
Sometimes love looks real simple—
Just stop
And lend a hand.
[Verse 3]
Then our neighbor came outside,
Looking tired from a long, hard day.
He stopped when he saw the yard cleaned up
And didn’t know what to say.
He smiled at Donald.
“Thank you, buddy.”
Donald stood up extra tall.
Then whispered to me,
“Dad…
I think he thinks I did it all.”
I said,
“You carried one cup.”
Donald said,
“It was a very important cup.”
[Bridge]
Walking home I told him,
“Kindness isn’t just being nice.
It’s seeing when somebody needs you
And choosing to do what’s right.”
Donald thought about that awhile.
Then said,
“So Jesus didn’t just tell people
He loved them?”
“Nope.
He stopped.
He helped.
He cared.”
Donald nodded.
“So kindness has feet.”
I smiled.
“Yeah, buddy.
Kindness has feet.”
Donald looked at his paws.
“Well… mine are dirty.”
[Final Chorus]
It ain’t gotta be your mess
For you to lend a hand.
Kindness sees somebody struggling
And helps them where they stand.
Get Right in your heart,
Then Do Right when you can.
Sometimes love looks real simple—
Pick it up.
Help them out.
Stay awhile.
Lend a hand.
[Outro — Spoken]
Dad:
“Donald, what’d you learn?”
Donald:
“Kindness has feet.”
Dad:
“That’s right.”
Donald:
“And mine are dirty.”
Dad:
“Also right.”
Donald:
“So…”
Dad:
“So what?”
Donald:
“You’re gonna wash ’em?”
Dad:
“Donald.”
Donald:
“Kindness, Dad.”