December 9, 2011

Dear Jeanne-Marie,

With holidays coming soon, I wish to do something different this year,
something that really matters. Any suggestions?

Signed,
Need Ideas

Short answer:
Dear Need Ideas,

Perform a kindness to a stranger. They will never forget it.

Long answer:
From my favorite poem..

Whenever life had dealt a blow
and I knew not which way to go
a surge of hope always came through
-the kindness of a stranger.

One day when she was only three
I took my daughter for a Christmas tree
with little money, a beauty we had
-with the kindness of a stranger.

The day had come to leave our rental
without a home where would we settle?
without a chance, a home was ours
-from the kindness of a stranger.

A visit to a Goodwill store
where we left coats with no need for
we came upon new furniture
-from the kindness of a stranger.

But how would we transport it home
a mother and child, all alone
but here he was with pickup truck
-the kindness of a stranger.

Now we know and we can see
when we take a moment just to be
a ray of light to someone else
-we’re the kindness of a stranger.

(Excerpt from Junctions by Jeanne-Marie)

To all of the strangers, throughout the years, who have helped my daughter
and I, you were Peace on Earth personified. Thank you.