I Perform Random Acts Of Kindness
My daughter and I went to the local mission to help serve dinner this afternoon. We spent several hours mingling in the dining hall getting to know some of the residents. Many of these individuals are lonely and never see a friendly face. So we always try and stay long after serving just to lend an ear for those in need.
Today, we spent most of our time talking to a mother and her 11 year old daughter. She's come from a long line of hardships from an alcoholic father, a mentally ill mother and a physically abusive husband. She really did have a story that pulled on my heart strings. She was rescued by the director of the mission while reaching out for help. She and her daughter left with just the clothes they had on the day he came to pick them up. As she told her story, tears were rolling down my face. I couldn't help but feel her pain with every word she described. I gave her some words of encouragement and we shared a tight embrace before we left. Walking out the door, I couldn't help but feel like that wasn't enough.
Before getting into my car, I walked over to the office and asked the office manager to pull her file and give me clothing sizes for her and her daughter as well as any necessities she specifically asked for on her housing application. My daughter and I made a trip to Walmart and filled a cart full of clothes and other things just for the both of them. We got everything she asked for on her application as well as a few things we thought both of them would like. I picked up a sweet card of encouragement and put $100 in it. Watching the tears of joy roll down her cheeks warmed my heart and filled my soul with peace as she opened each bag.
You never know the struggles people are facing. It's very easy to look around and take for granted everything we have in life. Some people would give anything just to have the things we tend to complain about on a daily basis. It's so easy to get caught up in our wants and to forget our needs are really being met. Always be thankful for what you do have. It can easily be gone in the blink of an eye.
Today, we spent most of our time talking to a mother and her 11 year old daughter. She's come from a long line of hardships from an alcoholic father, a mentally ill mother and a physically abusive husband. She really did have a story that pulled on my heart strings. She was rescued by the director of the mission while reaching out for help. She and her daughter left with just the clothes they had on the day he came to pick them up. As she told her story, tears were rolling down my face. I couldn't help but feel her pain with every word she described. I gave her some words of encouragement and we shared a tight embrace before we left. Walking out the door, I couldn't help but feel like that wasn't enough.
Before getting into my car, I walked over to the office and asked the office manager to pull her file and give me clothing sizes for her and her daughter as well as any necessities she specifically asked for on her housing application. My daughter and I made a trip to Walmart and filled a cart full of clothes and other things just for the both of them. We got everything she asked for on her application as well as a few things we thought both of them would like. I picked up a sweet card of encouragement and put $100 in it. Watching the tears of joy roll down her cheeks warmed my heart and filled my soul with peace as she opened each bag.
You never know the struggles people are facing. It's very easy to look around and take for granted everything we have in life. Some people would give anything just to have the things we tend to complain about on a daily basis. It's so easy to get caught up in our wants and to forget our needs are really being met. Always be thankful for what you do have. It can easily be gone in the blink of an eye.
41-45, F
