I
saw a link to a video on facebook which started out with the following quote:
“Carry out random acts of
kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day
someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana
After
watching the video – I was reminded how very little is needed to touch
someone’s life profoundly. I started to question
myself, “What have I done lately for someone else? Whose heart am I touching? Have I brought a smile to someone recently?”
I
spent some time in prayer and then knew what I was going to do.
First, I headed out to some neighborhood stores and gathered some gifts. Once I returned home, I made a pot of
homemade chicken soup.
I then put
together two large gift bags with special items; a warm fleece throw, warm spa
socks, magazines, puzzle books, sugar free candy, sugar free cookies, sugar
free hot chocolate, note pad and pens, healing hand cream, lip balm, and boxes of
tissues.
After packing them up neatly, and
getting together some containers of the chicken soup, I planned my visits to two
of my elderly neighbors – Frank and then Ethel.
I usually have to call Frank before
ringing his bell, since he never can hear the doorbell, due to his hearing loss
and having his television blasting a few feet from his chair. Frank is in his late 80’s.
When
I identified myself on the phone, he laughed and asked, “Are you checking up on
me?” – which is his usual response once I let him know its me.
My
usual response – “not really, but would that be so bad?” He chuckled and then I asked if I could visit
him for a minute. He gladly welcomed me
into his apartment.
I
told him I was thinking of him and thought he could use some special
goodies. I took the gift bag
and started pulling out the various items, identifying each as I placed them on
his table.
I
truly believe after each item his smile grew wider and wider. I told him that I have been praying for him
and that I will continue to do so. He
said it 'felt like Christmas’ and this meant so much to him.
He
asked me to sit and stay for awhile.
He talked about his past and how he is handling aging. He shared about his hobbies and how he can’t
really do so many of them anymore, due to his age. He showed me an unbelievable model of a ship
that he had hand built years back and one he has been working on for the past
year. He explained each detail,
including metal anchors and intricate rigging, rolled sails, wood inlay hull,
inlay deck, an ornate stern and many more. The wood on the deck was beautiful;
every detail was so real that you wanted to just go on board the ship. He was hoping he could finish this last one
for his grandson, who’s now married and has children of his own. His work was meticulous.
We
chatted more and more – our visit was about 1-1/2 hours. Then we said our farewells. I then went back to my apartment and just
paused, remembering the many years I’ve known Frank – since I moved into my
apartment in 1982. His wife ran a pre-school
that both my children attended. She
passed away many years ago.
I
then called my other neighbor Ethel. Ethel
has a live-in caretaker, who answered the phone. I introduced myself and asked her if she
would ask Ethel if I could visit with her for a moment. She told me Ethel was in bed for the night
and perhaps I could come by tomorrow.
The next morning, I called again and was able to stop by and see Ethel.
Ethel
was so excited when I came in, after I stood approximately 6 inches in front of her
and she was able to see me. She smiled
as she recognized me and called my name.
Ethel is in her mid-90’s.
As
I did with Frank – I told her she was on my mind and that I had some gifts for
her. As I started to take them out of
the bag, she began to cry.
I
put her hands in mine – small, thin, so very frail, and held them for a
moment. I told her to enjoy this moment
of being loved and let’s look at the fun goodies I had for her. Once we finished, I handed the soup to her
caretaker to put away and asked Ethel if she wanted me to put the other items
back in the bag or leave them out. She
opted for leaving them out – so she can look at them and feel loved.
Ethel
too, I’ve known since I moved into my apartment. But I grew to know her personally after her
husband passed away, probably over 20 years ago, when I went to the funeral service
and visited her when she was sitting Shiva.
She was so touched that I came to the service and visited her and we
continued to have many conversations, holding each other’s mail when we were
each away, sitting on the neighborhood bench talking, etc., until she became
homebound. I try to visit her
occasionally, but I know I don’t do so as much as I really could.
What
amazes me is that both Frank & Ethel will never be able “to do anything”
for me, and yet they actually have. They
each trust me to come into their home.
They are touched that I would visit, bring homemade soup or occasionally
other dishes, and now allowed me to visit and give them these bags of
goodies.
They
have no idea the gift they have given me.
They’ve allowed my heart to love a bit more; they’ve allowed me to reach
out and touch their hearts; they’ve allowed me to understand the gift of giving
– which can only be understood when done without motive.
“Carry out random acts of
kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day
someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana
