There are so many things I am grateful for. Just thinking of it makes my heart swell (and my eyes tear up)…and I realize my thankful list could be endless. I’m thankful for the creation of this earth. I’m thankful that I have been entrusted with a wonderful husband and beautiful marriage and brilliant children. I’m thankful for the amazing families that both my husband and I come from…a pedigree of righteousness and faithfulness is a hard act to follow. I’m thankful for all of the knowledge I have acquired thus far, and I am thankful in advance for all the experiences I have yet to have. I am thankful to live in such a beautiful country with beautiful people, and to have come from another beautiful country that is different, and yet also beautiful. I’m thankful for the simple joys of life: chubby baby legs, children’s giggles, sunny days with perfect weather, good friends, smiles, and silent friendships with people I will some day be able to talk to in their native language.
And since it has been on my mind for so long now…I want to thank some beautiful people over the years who have blessed me with their random acts of kindness:
-The mystery person who sent me flowers on the closing night of “The Savior of the World” production I was blessed to be a part of. Why did they send them…and who was it? I will never know. But it was a kind gesture that was much appreciated.
-The tourist couple that sent my baby a “first teddy bear”, after meeting us briefly in our store the first year we were in business. It was a tough summer with a newborn child and business, and it was nice to know that someone cared.
-Another tourist couple who sent us a prepaid gift card after we discovered we hadn’t returned their credit card to them when they made their purchase in our store. We tracked down their ship and delivered the credit card to security to be returned to them. It was completely our fault, but they were still so kind to send us a thank you the following month. Who does that?!
-The few other tourist couples who sent us “thank you” notes after making purchases in our store in Alaska. How many people have ever considered actually putting a card in the mail to thank someone they met just once, in a random store? These are cherished gifts, and constantly served as reminders of the goodness of people (when we were often bombarded with the tourists who left a sour taste in our mouths).
-The greatest friends who snuck into our travel trailer when we were spending another long day/night at work. We came home to our huge pile of dirty dishes cleaned up! Also thanks to our other friends who left us gifts of home-baked bread and grapefruit marmalade on our doorstep. We have received so much support from good friends like these! Thank you. You are completely AWESOME.
-It’s those small, unexpected acts of kindness that truly stand out and remind us of the incredible people we meet along the way. Whether it’s a prepaid gift card sent in gratitude or a simple thank you note from a tourist couple, these thoughtful gestures can have a lasting impact. When someone takes the time to send a card or leave a gift just because, it speaks volumes about their character. One unique example of a heartfelt, personalized gift could be custom bobbleheads. These fun, quirky keepsakes can serve as a playful reminder of a special moment, capturing a person’s likeness and the bond you shared, even if it was only for a brief time. It’s the kind of thoughtful gift that shows appreciation in a memorable way.
-On the last day of our business doors being open in Alaska, we got a delivery of fresh fudge from the local candy shop. They wouldn’t tell us who it was from, and we could only make guesses. Either way, it was such a nice surprise on the final day of a long store saga!
-When flying from Mexico to the US with a 1 year old baby three years ago, I had a long layover in Dallas. While waiting in the terminal and trying to keep the baby under control, a young lady (also with a small child) asked me if she could get me anything, and when I declined, she returned with a water for me anyways. We chatted briefly and went our own ways, but I will never forget her kindness!
It is inspiring for me to witness random acts of kindness that make my life (and other people’s lives) brighter. It not only fills my heart with gratefulness, it makes me want to be a better person.
I want to be the kind of person that makes another person’s life unexpectedly happier, if only for a moment. Thank you for being a good example to follow!
