Sunday, September 15, 2013

I meant to share these a while ago...

I meant to share these a while ago, but I held off due to the fact that I was gifting them to family members. And now here they are!


Tuesday, September 10, 2013

The Kindness of Strangers

Throughout my life I have been afforded a few opportunities to be shown the kindness of strangers. I've often wondered if I have returned the favor, if I have paid my dues. Have I done something out of the goodness of my heart for a stranger, and changed the course of their day, week, life? I'm not sure if I have, or if I would really know. I know I try to help anyone that I can, is that enough?

The first time I recall really being shown a truly random act of kindness was when I was 10. My sisters and I were flying solo from Maine to Florida on what was supposed to be a non stop flight. Our plane had to land for some reason or another and we were left to fend for ourselves. We had a layover and no idea how to get from one gate to another. Then, a man approached us and asked if he could help us. For whatever reason, we felt we could trust him, and he helped us. He bought us dinner and then made sure we got to the right gate and boarded our plane. I always wondered what happened to him after that. Did he go home and tell his wife or kids? Did he have a wife or kids? Does he even remember doing it?

Recently I shared that we were participating in a contest via Facebook for a new roof. Just typing that sentence seems surreal.  This amazing company, Total Home Roofing and Construction, decided the other day to end the contest a few days early. On Tuesday they made the announcement that they had decided to give both families featured in the contest a new roof! I couldn't believe it. I still feel like at any moment someone might come pinch me and I will wake up. The  weight that has been lifted off my shoulders is so tremendous. Words cannot possibly describe the emotions I have felt since they told us. I could try to with a few words: relief, gratitude, faith, amazement, RELIEF, thankfulness, and did I mention relief? I just feel so overwhelmed by the generosity of a company, not only willing to help out their community, but to help two families. Two!

I do not know how I can possibly show my gratitude to this company, other than to talk about the wonderful thing they are doing for us. So be prepared to hear more about them! Oh and by the way, if anyone out there in the Central Florida area needs their roof worked on, or other home construction done, I know this great company...