Random Acts of Kindness

"Be the change you want to see in the world."~ Mahatma Gandhi

I wasn't going to share this story.... It's just not something that I would do. It's private. Joe and I haven't told anyone except the very nice Kinko's lady that made a call to our home and one of his brothers when he asked what we were discussing. I'm still not sure that I should be sharing it. Doing so, in my eyes, takes away from the meaning of it. It is meant to be random, unrecognized, without praise and only for the giver and the receiver. But, it's New Year's day and when I woke up this morning, I just felt compelled to share it. I felt that sharing this story might inspire you to reach out and do a good deed. To feel compassion, love and understanding for those that happen to cross your path in life.

A few weeks before Christmas, my phone rang. It was my younger sister, Kim.
"I know how busy you guys are with moving and Christmas but, I have a huge favor to ask." 
I could hear the pain in her voice. "Sure," I said. "What do you need?"
"This is horrible," She sighed. "I have a friend..... She just found out that her sister was murdered. They just found her body. She's been missing since August."

She went on to explain that the girl, a Mom, had been brutally murdered by her boyfriend. An autopsy would have to be conducted before they could send her home for funeral services. She explained that the cost of the funeral would be covered by an agency in the state where she was murdered but, that the family only had enough money to cover the cost of the obituary and would not be able to afford to have prayer cards for the funeral.  

"Do you think Joe could design a prayer card if I send you a picture and all of the information?"
"Absolutely," I answered.
"Will you find out the cost of printing and let me know? I don't have alot but, I have to do something."
"Yes, definitley."

My heart was breaking after hearing the details. This woman was a Mother. She was somebody's sister, daughter, Aunt, friend. To think of what those that loved her most must be going through........

We received the information needed to create the prayer card and Joe got to work placing everything that the family had requested. I called Kinko's because I knew they would be able to do the job quickly and made all of the arrangements for printing. We were in the process of moving at the time and were down to the wire when the card was completed and sent to print.

I called my sister the day before the funeral service, which was also the day before we were moving.
"Hi Sis.... The cards will be ready tomorrow morning. Can you pick them up?"
"Yes, yes," She said. "Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to the family. They are so appreciative. How much did they come to?"
"Don't worry about it. They are already paid for. They just need to be picked up. Can you save me one card though? I'd like to hang it on our Christmas tree and share the story with the kids."

My sister called me the next morning. She had picked up the package of cards and brought them over to the family.
"My friend just called me, crying," She said. "She just opened the box of cards and she said they are just beautiful. Thank you again. This really means alot. I love you."
"I love you too, Sis...."

The next day, I received a call from a customer service rep at Kinko's. "I'm just calling to see how everything went with your order and if you were satisfied with the finished product." She said.
"Well, I never got to see the finished product," I said. I explained the story to her.....
"If only there were more people in the world who reached out to help one another and lift each other up," I said. "Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
I later received the following email from her:

Teresa,
Attached is the prayer card .Your story warmed my heart .I will send the story you shared with me out to our entire district. You are right if only more people took the time ,a  gentle touch,  and a  –pay it forward approach as you and your husband did for this family –the world would be a better place.
God bless to you and your family. Please feel free to reach out to me if you need anything in the future.

Happy Holidays 
Thank You for your business and for sharing your story.

I can not even begin to explain how this experience made me feel. As much as my heart broke for this family it was filled with love and compassion and the gift of giving. I'll never forget it and neither will my children. It's a New Year. Make a point to reach out whenever you can. Even if it's just a smile or a prayer.

Rest in Peace Lynn.... Your life was not wasted. This is your story, not ours. You are touching hearts and making a difference.....