I don't know why I've been so blessed to be the recipient of so many random acts of kindness lately, but it's extremely humbling and I feel like my cup runneth over. I always seek opportunities to serve others who truly need it, hoping that I will be that person that does that one thing that really made a difference for them, that eased their burden in some way. It doesn't happen often, even when the roles are reversed. We always appreciate service, but how often does it really, truly save us? For me, not often. But yesterday's act of service really struck me, because I really think it had to have been divine inspiration.
Yesterday morning I woke up with crazy stomach pains. (Sorry to those of you who have heard about all this, but none of you have heard how it ends.) I'd had them before (it's a little thing I call trapped gas. I'm only telling you this so I don't get a million comments saying I may have this or that and need to get to a doctor right away), but this was the worst. I was doubled over in pain, and after I got Macy out the door I gave Payson free reign of the Xbox (I knew we got that thing for a reason!) and went back to bed. The pain was making me nauseous as well and I knew I had to sleep or I'd be sick.
Some time later (actual amount of time will remain undisclosed) I woke up feeling much better. The pain had localized on my right side (yes, I know, alarm, alarm, appendicitis, but like I said, I've had it before and thought appendicitis and it went away. Plus, it wouldn't have gotten better after sleeping if it was appendicitis) and was totally bearable. I just didn't move much. A few hours later it started spreading across my abdomen again and making me sick to my stomach once again. Well, most of you know what happens when I feel sick to my stomach--cold sweats and hyperventilation ensues and I'm back in bed in the fetal position, willing myself to go to sleep so it will go away. Fortunately, I did, but when I woke up I wasn't sure I felt much of a difference. The nausea was gone but the pain was still there and now my head was pounding. Lovely. I was laying in bed, wanting to die, when I heard my doorbell ring. Uuuuuhhhhh, I thought. Who's ringing my doorbell? Well, I knew I wasn't going to move and I trained my kids a long time ago that when I'm sleeping and the doorbell rings, they not only do NOT run to answer it, but they don't start yelling that someone is at the door either because then it's quite clear to the person on the other side of the door that someone is in fact home. I heard them shushing each other (so cute, I trained them well) and then Macy ran into my room and said someone was at the door. I told her to go look out her front window (our only way to see who it could be, but a nice way because no one ever sees her) to see who it was. All she could tell me was it was a "big white car. Huge." I knew no one with a huge white car and wasn't expecting anyone, and I figured if it was any kind of a friend they'd understand later when I told them why I didn't answer the door...you know, because I was dying.
The doorbell rang a second time and I panicked, but told myself they'd have to go away eventually. Of course Macy ran in to tell me they rang the doorbell again. (Thanks, Mace, it is hard to hear the ding dong aaaallllllll the way over on this side of the house.) I told her to stay quiet, they would go away. (If you're wondering, yes, at this point I was starting to have guilt.)
A minute later she ran back in and said, "They left." I said, "Well did you see the person walking to the car?" She said, "No." Then she said, "Do you want me to see if they left anything?" (That part is kind of weird, because normally I wouldn't assume something was left and I don't know why Macy did.) I said, "Yes, but only if you're sure they're gone."
I listened as I heard my kids open the door then close it a few seconds later and tried to make out what they were saying in the family room. I heard, "wow" and "carrots" and "dinner." Huh? Who would have brought us dinner? I thought back to the people I had mentioned I was sick to. I could think of 4, and only one person knew in detail what was going on. None of them drove a "huge, white car." I was stumped. The kids came running in saying, "Someone left us dinner! There's a card!" I asked to see the card and the card in and of itself warmed my insides. It was beautiful (I hadn't even opened it yet), with our name in absolutely perfect print and a sprig of lavender tied to the envelope with twine. I didn't recognize the handwriting.
I opened it up, dying to know who had done such an amazing thing for us, and when I saw the name, I slowly shook my head in awe and gratitude. I know you're all dying to know who it was, and I swear I don't do this to be mean or torture you. I would never want to embarrass someone or make public something that they intended to be private. I don't know this person extremely well, but if there's one thing I can guess about her, it would be that she would not want a ton of recognition for her kind act.
And that's what touched me so much. It was from a sister in my ward (at church) that I have never really had the chance to get to know very well but have always truly liked and thought was the sweetest person. She and her husband are two of the most genuinely nice, happy people I know. It doesn't surprise me in the least that she would do something like this, but I had to wonder what I had done to deserve such a wonderful thing. Then I wondered...could she have somehow known I was in bed, unable to get up, reeling in pain? I couldn't think of a single way she could have known. Maybe she did, and that would explain it. But from the card she wrote our family, I didn't get that impression at all. I think it was just something she wanted to do, and had no idea how badly I needed it that night. I think she was truly inspired to bring us dinner last night, and probably has no idea.
It was such a testimony to me that the Lord does inspire people to help where it is needed. It made my desire to do so grow even more. I only hope one day I can do for someone what this sister did for me last night. So, to my friend, if you are reading this, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. (It was one of the best meals I've had in a long time!)
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