Stories of Kindness from Around the World

At 47 years old who would have thought I would have been wearing a "Baby's First Thanksgiving" bib?

Although I didn't actually wear a bib, last year was my first "real" Thanksgiving.

I came from a broken home and when I married 25 years ago, I sought to make my family everything I didn't have growing up. I'm afraid I had that "white picket fence" mentality. Every holiday needed to be picture perfect. The food, the dishes, the house decorations, even down to the cozy sweater I had purchased especially for the occasion. I was so wrapped up in how things were suppose to be, losing sight of what meant most. So many of my years wasted on being decieved.

That was then this is now. Being alone now, separated from my husband, and our son serving in the military, I was blessed to have the opportunity to truly serve. A small group of friends and I served food at a women's shelter. We gave food to the homeless, women who had been battered, children without daddies. I saw people with hurt and pain in their hearts through their eyes. i saw the loneliness, I knew the loneliness. But in all that, I felt so much love. Volunteers reaching out with loving smiles, warm conversation and a gentle touch. God's genuine, real love...serving.

This was where I was suppose to be, see this shelter was located less than a block from where I grew up. I knew the stories of these people I was serving. I knew their hearts. I was one of those children.

Here was my white picket fence, although the dogs were running out in the street, the men homeless, the women hurt, the children without their daddies, the silverware and plates plastic, the food a burrito and the drink punch... here there was genuine love.

I have learned that love is to be had daily, not just once or twice a year.I need to remember that the person who is standing in the grocery line may be hurting in some kind of way, and may need a smile, or the woman cleaning the restroom at the place where I shop, may be one who is battered with small children and her home is a room at a shelter. To have a heart compassionate to all, this is the real blessing of Thanksgiving.

Life is hard for most of us. But if we take the time to reach out to one another, with a smile, a kind hello, a moment to genuinely ask "how are you"... it makes the journey a little easier for everyone.  

 My first Thanksgiving, my cup continues to overflow!