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I had seen my old friend working at our local Wal-Mart for several months. She always stopped to say hi, then hurried off saying she had to get back to work.
Through our brief conversations I discovered she had been down a pretty rough road but somehow had maintained her positive and cheerful outlook on life. One day she told me she was living in an apartment building that well known for alcohol and drug problems, but was all she could afford. A few weeks later there was a fire at the apartment complex and all residents had to move to a hotel until they could clean it all up. As she would tell me these things she would always point out that it could be worse and ended with a positive point about her situation.
I felt a pull in my heart to do something to help, because I had been in her shoes once or twice but my life had taken a turn for the better.
Every time I thought of her I just knew I was supposed to help her somehow. I just couldn't figure out what it was I was supposed to do.
Christmas was coming and I hadn't been in Wal-Mart in a while. This morning I was driving by and turned in on an impulse. I had Christmas cards in my car from work and there were a few left over. I pulled one out and addressed it to her. I placed a gift of cash inside the card - more cash than I had ever given anyone but the pull in my heart said, "Yes! Do it!"
I went up to customer service and said to the lady working there, "I'm looking for my friend. I don't even know her last name these days."
She said, "I don't either - but she is here. I'll call her for you."
When my friend showed up I said, "Here is a card for you," and we hugged. Then she said, "Should I open it here?"
"Sure," I said. She opened it and tears came to her eyes. She said, "Oh! Thank you! I wasn't going to be able to give my girls Christmas at all this year."
As wonderful as it was for me to see her happiness and know I had finally figured out how I was supposed to help her, what she did next made me know I had done the right thing. She called me later to thank me again and said, "It was too much, so I shared it with two other women at work who were not going to have Christmas for their children either. I hope you don't mind."
My heart swelled with joy knowing I had done something that was passed on right where it was meant to go.
4202 Reads
- Posted by Zgirl1650
- Feb 10, 2013
- Comments (8)
Readers Comments
Joy wrote: Wow, what a story of kindness. So nice to see how your friend decided to share the kindness. Many blessings and thanks for sharing.
josietn wrote: A heart tug? You certainly yanked mine just now! Bless you!
jsmc10 wrote: Such a great story, thanks so much for helping her and her family. This warmed my heart and made me smile. Thanks for sharing :)
Deb wrote: I just love when that little voice cheers us on and it turns out like your story did. What a generous soul she must be to go and help out others! And just maybe the children of those helped out will one day learn of the story. What you did will ripple out into the world. Bless you!
Bluebell wrote: What a blessing to the world you are. May your kindness have endless ripples. Love and Light and Endless Blessings, Bluebell
MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: Bless you for your kindness. I love how you took the time to find her and make her day. Kind acts like that leave an impression for life on them and you! Way to go! :)
simplegirl7 wrote: i hope that your family and friends know how blessed they are that you are in their lives
heartwarmer wrote: We have it in our hearts to know the right thing to do if we only take the time to listen. You did and it brought happiness to all of you! BIG hug!
