Long Distance Acts of Kindness

This Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching us and between now and next Thursday, let us all pay extra special attention to those around us and people we come into contact with to see what their plans are. This year especially families all around us have been hit by this horrible economy and may find themselves just thankful to have a roof over their heads but no feast for the table.

Let us all be a little more generous this year and take note of the little things we can do to make a difference for one person this Thanksgiving. Perhaps it's inviting a whole family over for dinner with yours, perhaps it's taking them a gift card from a local grocery store or restaurant for dinner, or even making a dinner and making an extra special delivery. There are so many ways if we only are will to look and see them. Here's a special story that will help illustrate that point in a great way:

I work with a warm, fun-loving woman named Heather. This year our boss asked a group of us to join his family on Thanksgiving. Seated around the table, Heather said something had totally changed her the day before -- like she was walking in a new direction. I listened and watched as her eyes welled with tears.

Heather deals daily with people on the telephone. She was speaking with a Veteran and asked if he was looking forward to Thanksgiving. She was surprised when he said no, and asked why.

He had been let go from his job more than a month before and was having a tough time making ends meet. He shared how hard it was to feel powerless to provide a Thanksgiving meal for his wife and children. She wished him a happy holiday and good luck. There was nothing to do but say good-bye and hang-up.

But I must do something, she thought. She knew the man’s address and started calling restaurants in California (we’re in Florida), asking if they could prepare and deliver a complete Thanksgiving dinner. Over and over she was told no, it was too late or no, we don’t do that or no, we don’t deliver on holidays.

Running out of options, she called a delicatessen and relayed what she wanted to do. The man at the Deli Man agreed to help -- If Heather would pay, he would shop for everything, prepare the meal and deliver it to the family on Thanksgiving.

And so it was, with a warm (anonymous) wish for a joyous Thanksgiving from someone who cared.