Those of you who have been hanging out with me for awhile may remember a post I wrote about a special Christmas moment our son, Brandon, had at work a couple years ago. I can’t find the bloomin’ post right now, but here’s the gist of it. (I found it! It was right below this post! After all this time I got some of the details WRONG. Two years and an MG diagnoses has let things somewhat cloudy! A Touch of Comfort)
One week before Christmas a lady came into the store where he worked to pick up a set of linen napkins she’d ordered to match her Christmas tablecloth. She was having a big family dinner on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, whoever had ordered them had ordered the wrong ones. She was horribly, HORRIBLY upset and crying. Brandon overheard her arguing with one of the sales clerks and went to see what the problem was.
He listened to her story then had her set down in his office while he proceeded to call other stores looking for the right ones. Finally he found them and promised her they’d be in before her dinner. She had calmed down, but suddenly started crying again. Bran asked her what was wrong and she told him her son had died the day before. Bran got up and gave her a hug and just let her talk and cry.
After that day every time she’d stop into Bed Bath & Beyond she’d take a few minutes to visit with Bran if he happened to be around. She always called him her “angel” and thanked him for the kindness he’d shown her that day. And Brandon was, indeed, an angel to her that Christmas.
Fast forward two and a half years later (it will be three years this Christmas) and she came in and visited with him a couple weeks ago. It never occurred to Bran that there was anything strange about their conversation the day he met her. He didn’t think there was anything odd about her referring to him as her “angel.” But on this recent visit she explained. The one thing she had never told him was her son’s name. It was Brandon.
You just never know when a kindness you’ve “committed” will come back years later and surprise you!
That certainly holds true for the teacher in this video. Her story just might have you looking for people to be kind to… And by all means, watch out for “angels” in your OWN lives!
Oh, Cheryl. This post made me cry – twice. Thank you for reminding us that those little things we do with kindness can make a world of difference in someone’s life, and we may never even know it. Your son showed such kindness letting that woman grieve. You raised your kids well.
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Brandon really has a gift for connecting with folks. He’ll make a great pastor. 🙂
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What an amazing story. It’s a reminder that we should always be kind, because we never know what another person is going through.
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So true, Julia. I often think about that sitting in traffic and watching folks in other cars.
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Chills, Lady Calen! Same name as her son’s. Wow. Brandon really is an angel. That’s his ministry. He’s a Real-World Rev. Not just a pulpit pastor, but someone who meets people where they live. Good job raising that young man right, dear heart!
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Oh, I think God had a hand in that. I’m pretty sure it was in spite of my parenting! LOL
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How very, very special…thank you for the reminder. My heart is full.
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Little things can be so life affirming for other people, can’t they… I always think about that reading on your blog about the special things you do with your family. What a beautiful gift you have, Jeanne. ❤
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Our children are a reflection of us. You raised him to be a loving and caring person.
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I think the best we can do with our kids is to be consistently adequate, eh, Colleen? (Where do the anxiety issues fit in there? He’s just like me! LOL)
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You just never know! Perhaps Karma really is real?
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I’d say SO! I ran into her in the grocery store the other day, purple hair and all! I can assure you Karma IS real! LOL (And sometimes can be such a pain in the keister!)
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Reblogged this on moreinkpleaseblog.
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Thanks for the reblog, Beverly. Glad it touched you. ❤
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You are welcome.
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