“A few weeks ago, on a particularly cold and damp day, my husband Adam spent hours outside at my mom’s house trying to cut up a massive tree that was badly damaged in a storm.
Because my mother’s home is at the corner of a 4 way intersection, there is a lot of visibility of her property from the street. Several vehicles stopped and asked if they could have the wood when he finished. Then a man stopped and asked if he could help in exchange for the wood. Given that Adam had several days of back aching work ahead of him, he accepted the offer.
The man introduced himself as Chris. It turns out he lives up the road. He knows what dogs everyone in our neighborhood owns and asked to meet my mother’s frenchies. Her dogs, who are notoriously people selective, LOVED him. Perhaps it was because he radiated joy as he dropped his large frame down to their level to greet them.
He not only spent hours out in that damp cold sawing and splitting along side my husband, but also brought his wife Jackie to help. In that first day, Chris and Jackie worked for hours and filled their truck with several loads of wood. In the process, they kept my mother and husband entertained with playful banter as they worked. Chris split his pants and made a show of it to his wife and my mother. His wife pretended to be disgusted.
Both my mom and husband seemed just a little lighter and brighter after that meeting despite being unspeakably sore and tired from the work. On several more occasions since then, I have had the pleasure of seeing Chris and my husband at work in the yard. They take turns sawing and splitting, lifting and hauling, chatting and laughing. They talk about their lives and keep each other company. It has been a privilege to watch their friendship blossom.
Adam has very few local friends and no family within a 13 hour drive. Chris is apparently retired with more time in his hands than he’d like. They both seem to enjoy being useful and working outdoors, which is pretty lucky for my mom who is the owner of the felled tree. My mother has had a hell of a year with more loss and trauma than anyone should have to deal with. The tree coming down was the latest in a string of major stressors. And yet, it was that disaster that brought Chris and Jackie into our lives to share their goodwill, and even humor.
Sometimes our worst luck can be a blessing in disguise. Chris will probably never realize what a positive effect his kindness had on both my husband and mother. He saw they had a task too large for them to manage, and he offered help. It was a small gesture but hugely impactful. I truly believe that every act of kindness creates ripples and expands.
Maybe we can’t change everything wrong with the world by being kind, but we can change the worlds of the people around us. Who knows what those people might accomplish once they experience the power of kindness.
And honestly, I don’t think it was ever about the wood. I think the wood was just an excuse to help a guy struggling with a massive task.”
Credit:Jenny Rice
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