Stories of Kindness from Around the World

As I reached into the envelope, MUCH to my surprise, I pulled out a sketch by Manohar Devadoss. My heart instantly melted by the idea that someone reached out to us with such a beautiful drawing by a person, whose life has touched mine from the minute I read Pavi's piece on him and his wife. I immediately began to recollect his lifestory and felt so honored to be the recipient of such a remarkable gesture by an anonymous friend. Well, then my mind began racing to figure out who could have been behind this, and of course the first person to come to my mind was Pavi -- she's one of the only people who knows of my admiration for the Devadoss couple. But then, when I noticed that it was hand-delivered by someone (there was no address or postage on the envelope), I realized quickly that others had to have been involved as well.

I spent the next couple of hours with a huge smile on my face as I unpacked and resettled into our home. I couldn't stop thinking about the drawing and about who was behind this sweet anonymous act of kindness.

A few hours later, I reached back into the envelope to examine the drawing once more, and as I did I found a hand-written note inside. As I began to read it, I was almost in tears -- if you read it, you'd know why.

It began with...

Manohar Devadoss spent hours and hours perfecting his jasmine bud sketches. Each afternoon he'd have a handful of the blossoms brought to his desk. He would marvel at their delicate shape, the purity of their colour - then he'd cover sheet after sheet with 'practice' sketches... until finally he felt ready enough to embark on this sketch of the wide jasmine fields on the outskirts of Madurai.

...and throughout the note, were many sweet notes and inspiring thoughts.

So then I decided to write a small note of gratitude to the crew of four, who I was sure had to have something to do with this beautiful gesture. And of course, nobody took credit, and instead they told me someone else altogether was the "culprit" behind this act, who I wouldn't even imagine in my wildest dreams. So, to this anonymous culprit, a warm thanks and bow of gratitude for your kind gesture -- we are honored to receive it and are inspired to pay-it-forward. The sketch will serve as a daily reminder of how the Devadoss's have made the impossible, possible, and how they continue to live each moment to the fullest through their inspiring journey in life.