It was one of those days- a day when it was completely acceptable to wear orange sweatpants and a red t-shirt in public. As I walked into the grocery store, I repeated “please don’t let me see anyone I know” over and over in my head. I grabbed my daughter’s $30 hypoallergenic formula, a few items to throw together for diner, and hurried out the door to return to my chaotic day. That’s when a small gesture by a stranger would change my day… and my way of thinking.
I was walking through the parking lot when I heard, “Ma’am? Ma’am!” The check-out lady from the grocery store came running up behind me and handed me a big, beautiful cake. She explained to me that an older gentleman comes in each week, purchases a few cakes, and asks them to be given to folks to brighten their day.
The check-out lady, the cake, and the mystery man not only made me smile, but also gave me an unpredicted adrenalin rush. I wanted so badly to pay-it-forward.
As I was driving home, I began brainstorming nice things I could do for other people. That’s when I remembered one of my friends on Facebook, Mary Wilson, frequently posted random acts of kindness on her Facebook page. I thought I would reach out to her to get some ideas.
Not only did she share the most amazing acts of kindness, she allowed me to uncover her beautiful story…
On Good Friday of 2012, Mary drove through Chick-fil-a and spontaneously decided to pay for the car behind her to start off the Easter Holiday. When she pulled away, she felt an overwhelming rush of emotion (which she says is so not her). The next week she and her husband, Bo, found out they miscarried a baby they so desperately wanted. A week went by and Mary was struggling to get out of bed so overcome with sadness. She prayed for a way not to feel the pain and loss anymore.
That morning, she had an incredible urge to pick up flowers for her neighbors (who she had never met) but always waved and smiled at everyone. So, she headed to the store, bought flowers and a card, dropped them on their porch and ran. For a few minutes, she felt happy again.
She spent the whole week thinking about what she could do the next Friday. It turned out that her constant thoughts of random acts of kindness is what kept her from being depressed.
It was on the following Friday when Mary went to the oncology lab (where her mother spent many afternoons receiving chemo treatments a few years earlier) and took a balloon that said, “Have a Nice Day!” and tied it to a random car.
It just went on from there and it became her goal to be the best thing that happened to someone every Friday for a year.
By the time her year came to an end, something wonderful happened. Mary and Bo found themselves caring for a precious baby girl through foster care who they hope to adopt.
And remember the flowers that Mary delivered to the couple she didn’t know? Last week, Mary returned to their porch again with a card explaining her story.
A few days later, they showed up on Mary and Bo’s porch with an Easter decoration and a card. Her neighbor told Mary that she hoped that all of her dreams would come true.
At that moment Mary’s foster daughter toddled into the room exclaiming, “HI!!” and their neighbor instantly became teary-eyed and overcome with emotion at the sight of the little girl.
When they left, Mary read their letter.
Dear Mary and Bo, We have been blessed by your cards and flowers. We know how events in our lives can really shake you, as yours did, as the past several months I have been treated for inoperable cancer. It is our prayer that I will be in remission soon. We pray that your dreams have been fulfilled.
And that’s where we are in Mary’s story. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I know that her random acts of kindness have made so many people happy.
Just the way I felt when I was handed the cake.
And speaking of the cake. I wonder what has happened to inspire the man to buy cakes, week after week. Whatever it is, I also hope his dreams have come true.
Do you participate in random acts of kindness? Have you ever been the recipient? We’d love to hear about it!
You can find more great ideas on Mary’s website longlivehappy.com.
A lady came in to the nail place while I was getting a pedicure. She needed all her polish off because she was having major surgery the next morning and said she was going to have to get on a donor organ list. As I left I paid for her mani/pedi. I felt so blessed to have my health and my family and the ability to pay for both of us. It really was the least I could do to make a perfect stranger feel better.
That is such an amazing story. Thank you so much for sharing. Seriously, your comment truly just inspired me. Thank you!