Kindness

The Husband called out: someone's coming up to the door. Figured I'd let him answer it, we weren't expecting anyone.  He said it wasn't anyone he recognized.  

It was our Bishop's daughter.  Home just a week from her mission.  Her original destination was Ukraine, but then the war happened over there and things got changed up to keep the missionaries safe and I lost track of where she was.  (It's really hard when you're old and kind of invisible.)

The Bishop had asked me to play for the daughter's friend at her homecoming in church this coming Sunday.  Of course I said yes.  (It's really hard for me to say no to pretty much any request for help.) After waiting a while for the music, and sending some queries as to if I would get the music in time for me to learn the song, it came out that this young woman would be accompanying herself.  Great! Less stress for me.

So here comes the Bishop's daughter carrying a bunch of flowers. We hadn't ever met her before (remember, we're old and don't run in the same circles as most of the people in the ward) but she came in, asked if I was who she was looking for.  And said the flowers were for me.  Just because. (I suspect it was because I'd been asked to accompany and then "un-asked" and they didn't want hurt feelings.  Which I didn't have because it has become such an anxiety-filled thing for me to do because of the inferiority I feel from the people in the ward.)  For whatever reason, it was a super kind thing to do.  She came in and introduced herself and chatted for a minute.  She's really sweet. 

When she left I thought for a few minutes.  Feeling a bit emotional.  People (unrelated people) don't often extend that sort of kindness to us.  

I remember all those years of giving valentines to the kids and then to the grandkids and wishing every year that someone would remember me on Valentine's day.  (Which is dumb of me because I don't really care about that day, think it's a manufactured celebration to keep the economy rolling around.  The Husband and I have never really celebrated it, we prefer to do our best to express our affection without obligation or prompting. )  I guess it's that "fear of being left out" thing that sometimes afflicts me.  I remember telling The Husband that just once I'd like one of the grandkids to at least text or something - anything to let me know they are aware of who I am.  Then one year (a number of years ago) one of the Young Single Adults - that we were teaching at the time - showed up on our doorstep on Valentine's day with a cake for me.   So someone did.  And it was lovely mostly because it was so unexpected.

Then Tuesday the flowers came.  On Valentine's day.  Certainly not for that occasion, but the coincidence didn't escape me.  They're pretty on my counter. And for just a few minutes I didn't feel quite so invisible and worthless.  

So grateful that kindness still exists in the world.  Grateful that even our favorite cashier at the grocery always has something pleasant to say and never forgets my name, always asks about The Husband.  Yes, there still is some goodness.