Yesterday, Panera Bread collected food for the Salvation Army Food Bank, which is having a very hard time right now. My gift for the day was a bag of food for their collection. As I was delivering it, Katie called.
"Mom, I just have to tell you about my gift for the day," she trilled. ("Gift for the day"? She's doing gifts?)
In late summer, Katie had a registration crisis. A class she needed in order to graduate was full. She had done everything she could to get into the class, and done it all on time, but still had a problem. As is her way, she planned ahead and weeks before the deadline, started checking in periodically, trying to work it out. A woman in the Administration building took up her cause and, after many, many emails and phone calls, worked out a way for Katie to get into the class. At the time, Katie thanked her on the phone and by email.
Yesterday, Katie found the woman's office and thanked her in person. It's registration time again, so there was a long line. As Katie waited, she worried that the whole thing was dumb and that the woman wouldn't remember her or care, but she stuck it out.
When it was finally her turn, Katie stepped up and explained. "I'm Kathryn B. You helped me get into XXX this semester. Before I graduate in December, I wanted to meet you and thank you and tell you what a difference you made for me."
The woman burst into tears. She talked about how hard it is to work with students and how rarely they appreciate her efforts. She told Katie how much it meant to have someone say thank you. She said, "This says something about your character. Kathryn B., I predict you have great things in your future. Can I hug you?"
As Katie told me all this, she positively glowed. "Mom, it really made her feel good. Seeing that was So. Much Fun!"
Tears rolled down my face. You want to talk about fun? Hearing my daughter tell that story was fun-on-a-stick, a true gift from the Universe.
Your local food bank might be having a hard time, too. Please check it out and share if you can.
7 comments:
That apple did not fall far from her tree. What a great story, and a nice reminder that the gift of a sincere thank you can have significant impact. With more food and gratitude, there's nothing we couldn't do, right? Love to you both.
Now tears are rolling down MY face! Gratitude. What a great, great thing!
That is a wonderful story.
Coolest story ever. :)
Yep. You raised that one right. Wonderful.
:)
She's your girl.
Pass it on! Oh, yeah, you already did that. And your daughter learned it well.
Smiles here. Huge smiles!
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