Not long ago, I ordered a small bundle of “Footprints in the Sand” bookmarks from Amazon. Intended for members of our GriefShare group, the story serves as a gentle and comforting reminder that even in life’s darkest moments, we’re not alone. Each bookmark carried the familiar line “When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
When the package arrived, tucked carefully inside was heartfelt information about the home business from the vendor, signed – With Love, Susan & Eric.
Something about that note stayed with me. Maybe it was the personal touch in such an impersonal age, or just that, amid the rush of life and loss, someone had taken a moment to include some kind words. E-mailing a quick thank-you message, I wanted Susan and Eric to know their small gesture was noticed and appreciated and that their bookmarks are absolutely beautiful.
To my surprise, Susan wrote back.
She thanked me for my message and shared a little bit about their life behind the scenes. Running a small business on Amazon can be, in her words, “brutal.” Every order packed and shipped isn’t just a transaction, but a matter of survival. But most of all, she shared something quietly beautiful. As a shut-in, her mom helps package their orders, giving her a sense of purpose and a way to contribute. She isn’t just packing orders, but rather participating in a chain of compassion beginning in a quiet home and stretching out into the world.
That revelation humbled me.
My small order wasn’t just a batch of bookmarks but part of something bigger. It helped keep a small business afloat while giving meaning to her mom’s day. Finally, it brought solace to people who are walking through grief.
Kindness has a way of traveling from one person to another, often unnoticed, but never without impact. What began as a simple Amazon order became a quiet circle of giving from Susan and Eric, to Susan’s mom, to me, to the members of our GriefShare group, and then back again.
We rarely get to see the full ripple of our actions. But every now and then, life gives us a glimpse.
Kindness. Share it. Receive it. And then, pass it on. Now THAT’s beautiful.
More tomorrow.
