Kindness of Stangers

It has been amazing to me how people I don't know come into my life at times I need them. I remember one time a lady showed up at my door when we lived in Arkansas. I was a young mom and really didn't have many friends. Here was this woman who came on request of a distant cousin. She introduced herself and we ended up chatting for a couple hours. She was a real encouragement to me. After that day, I never heard from or saw her again.

It has happened at other times, but more so in the past 8 months. After Dale died, I received cards, and phone calls from people in the community and beyond. Miss Prim's sister and brother, who I have never met sent me cards. People who knew Dale, whom I had never met made contact with me. A woman I had only been introduced to once, showed up on my doorstep with dinner in her hand for Emily and I, shortly after Dale died. It was overwhelming, yet was a comforting kindness as well.

I received an email from a lady yesterday, whom I have never met. She had read my blog and wanted me to know that she knew how I felt, as she too had lost her husband. She and I are part of MaryJane's Farm, a favorite website of mine. I had made a post on the site about my new house and had made a comment about it being bittersweet. She had read the blog to found out why.

There was an instant connection to her as what she said so fit my circumstance. She understood. She knew. Her heart hurt too. As we emailed back and forth, I learned that her hubby died of the same cancer as mine. I was floored! The Lord had brought to me someone to bring words of encouragement and kindness, someone who has trodden the path before me. She was someone who really knew my emotions, she had been at the same place.

I have found that grief really is a private thing. Everyone deals with it differently. It is not text book, though others try to make it so. I actually had someone tell me " well, in a year you will just have to get over it." My new email buddy, who shall hence forth be know as Michigan, had the same thing said to her. I have also had someone tell me that I talk too much about Dale. I am so conscience of that now. Often, I just bite my lip and say nothing. I know that those who have never gone through this just don't know what to say. It's okay, I didn't know what to say to others in this situation, till I went through it. I have learned to have duck feathers with this one. You have to or you would go crazy.

How wonderful to have someone who is willing to listen. A stranger who has opened the door to a stranger. Yet, the common ground of not only the loss of a husband, but that of the Lord. A true blessing. So, to you Michigan, thank you. May I learn from your example and show great kindness to another, when the Lord nudges me to do so.