The table is set for our family. We’re almost ready.

While so many things aren’t perfect, or even good presently, there’s always an opportunity for thanks. I’m recovering from walking pneumonia (no thank you to the sick person on the flight back from Italy for infecting me right before Thanksgiving, thus making my blog post LATE). But I’m grateful to the doctors and nurses who cared for me. Every day, no matter how terrible it’s been, I find something to be grateful for, even if it’s nothing more than a bright dandelion poking its head out of the grass. Joy is found in the small things, and that keeps me going.

The Kindness of Strangers

Today, I’m choosing to be grateful to kind strangers who help people for no reason other than having a good heart. I remember a few years ago when I came home from shopping, with my youngest son sleeping in his car seat. I opened the back door to a billow of smoke.

Fire

Cue panicked call to 911, running the kid to our friends’ house next door, fire trucks blaring to a stop in front of my house, and a brave local police officer who ran into the house. He discovered that a large bag of peanuts had fallen over, hitting the ‘on’ switch for the toaster oven, which started cooking the bowl of leftover Halloween candy on top. He threw it out the back door, probably saving us from a disaster.

Dazed and Flustered

Too upset to cook, with the underside of some kitchen cabinets scorched and the house smelling heavily of smoke (of course the husband was away on a business trip), I took the kids to Arby’s for dinner.

And forgot my purse. I had no money to pay for the food I’d ordered.

Why?

Maybe he smelled the smoke on me (stupid me went INTO the house to make the call), maybe he saw the panic on my face, maybe he saw the kids, waiting for food; whatever he saw, the manager of Arby’s on Route 22 comped the food. I was so grateful I wanted to cry.

Forgotten Thanks

Looking back, I wish I had written to the corporate office to tell them what such a compassionate action meant to my boys and me. I wish I had gone back and bought him a meal. I wish I had returned to thank him personally. And also the police officer and the firemen who set up fans to blow the smoke out. I think I’ll put them in my next stories…

So I’m grateful for the kindness of strangers. If you come across one, thank them, then pay it forward. The world needs all the kindness we can generate.

Wishing you the blessings of health, kindness, and all good things…