You always hear about those strangers who do insanely wonderful good things for people, but I've never heard of it happening to someone close to me. That was until, this Christmas season.
It all started when my best friend shared this story on Facebook:
"I am so completely overwhelmed by the kindness I was shown tonight. Jake & I went to buy a few groceries and at the checkout, realized we were missing a debit card. My card was denied so we started to take some things out of our bags. The stranger behind us stepped up, put her arm around me and said she was going to "give us a merry Christmas" and paid for our groceries. She then gave me a big hug. This simple act of kindness overwhelmed me with joy and love. I realized I want to make other people feel that way too, by being selfless."
Can you believe that? I think that is the kindest thing.
Then earlier this week Jacob and I were hit hard by finances while grocery shopping, when we realized just how much we didn't have to get us through to the end of the year. After a few tears, my best friend's story popped in my head and I have to admit, that I had the selfish thought,
"Why can't anything like that happen to us!"
(you know, the common phrase that comes out of all of our mouths when we're going through a trial)
It was then that brought on my last post. J and I reevaluated and concluded that we may not have any money, but we've got our love to pay the bills, we've got each other, and that is all that matters.
Then tonight happened.
It started this morning when I felt a bit of a Christmas cold coming on. J went to work early since it's Christmas season, and I was left at home. With his Christmas hours starting at 4, it's hard to make a big meal so close to lunch that will fill him until he's home around midnight so he ends up having 4.5 meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, late night dinner, and numerous snacks. I felt bad that I wasn't able to make him a big meal today because I had fallen asleep.
Then tonight, my parents got tickets to a week early showing of a movie I have been dying to see since I heard it was coming out. But since J had work, I gave my ticket away so that I could see it with him. My parents called me after they had gone to see it because they had left the tickets at home and asked if I would take them to them. And of course with not feeling too hot, and not being able to see the show, it just added to the emotions.
After getting home I came down stairs to our apartment and was laying on the couch ready to just call it a day, when I got a text from one of the Sisters in our ward saying:
"Hi Olivia, I rang the doorbell but didn't get an answer--didn't know if you have a separate entrance. I can pick up the soup pot tomorrow. Hope you have a great night!"
I walked up the stairs and was close to tears. As I opened the door and saw a pot of homemade soup, a bag of homemade rolls, and a Christmas card on the step. I couldn't help but cry.
She didn't know I had been feeling sick, or that we don't have much to get us to the end of the year, or that my husband would be home in a few hours starving and cold from being outside lifting boxes for the past 7 hours. She was just doing a kind act, and listening to the {Christmas} spirit. What a selfless thing to do.
My heart is full. We are ALL so blessed. I am now going to try and do something for someone else this Christmas, just as this Sister has done for us, and like the stranger in the grocery store did for my friend.
In fact I invite all of you to do it. Pass it on, make this holiday season a memorable one.
I will definitely remember this Christmas.
Thank you thank you Sister, and all those who are doing things like this out in this cruel world.
Your kindness means SO much more than you will ever know. We are ever so grateful.
xoxo
-O
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