To Help A Friend

Today I woke up not feeling well. I hate cramps! They are something I don't deal with very often, so when I do have them I'm a huge baby. Thank goodness for Pamprin! It worked. And pretty fast, but made me a little fuzzy headed. Which made me feel grumpy. Yes, this has been an off day! I don't like off days. At all.

I have been in the mode of cleaning our bedroom. Ya know, all those things that kind of pile in a corner because I don't know where else to put them. As I was going through some old papers I came across a card that was sent to me last summer. It was sent to me from a man I hardly know. His wife had just unexpectedly passed away and I went with some friends to help out. Did you know that bad robber people look in the newspapers for death notices? They then figure out when the funeral will be. When nobody will be home. And then they ransack the place? So lame, but it's true. Anyways, I went to be  the house sitter while this family was at the funeral. And as they were away I helped to set up a lunch for when they returned. That's all I did. It was simple and I was happy to do it. Then several weeks later I received this card in the mail. I honestly didn't recognize the name on the envelope. I was stunned and deeply touched that this man would take the time to write to me.  His message was so tender and heart felt. And then I cried.

This is what it says:

Dear Sister Gold,

Thank you for home sitting while we dedicated the grave of my sweet wife of 53 years. Thank you for serving and preparing the lunch for our family. I told you it looked more like a ward dinner than a lunch.

You must be one of Esther's angels.

Love,
Brother Dick Ohler

Is that not the sweetest note!?!

Me, one of Esther's angels. And I didn't even know his sweet wife's name was Esther. I really had never met these people before I went to help.

It reminded me that it really is the small things we do for others that make life happy. I can make a difference. And after I read his note my spirits were lifted. I needed that today.

It also made me think about my friend Julie who, one week ago, was given an opportunity to go and help the people of Japan recover from the tsunami. Julie served her mission in Sendai, Japan. So the people of that area devastated by the tsunami are dear to her heart. Of course she had to find a way to join the group going to help! She is to leave on August 1st, which means that she has three weeks to raise funds for a plane ticket, passport and all other expenses that come while traveling. And it's not cheap. But Julie is awesome and has been working like mad to raise funds. She is in the process of creating a cookbook full of all her favorite family recipes and is selling them for 15.00 a piece. While I can't fund her trip I can give a small amount to help. And that makes me feel good. If you are interested in helping my friend,  here is a link to her blog where you can purchase a cookbook as well as read about her thoughts and feelings about this upcoming adventure.

"Along your pathway of life you will observe that you are not the only traveler. There are others who need your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save." ~ Thomas S. Monson