Hustle of the Season
October to January at our house is an annual binge of food and activities. That may be one reason why this is the first Thanksgiving in fifteen years that I visited my father's grave. Imagine my surprise to discover I was not alone there early on Thanksgiving morning. In fact, there were quite a number of people visiting departed loved ones.
Meeting a Stranger
Before arriving at the cemetery I picked up some flowers at the store, congratulating myself for having the foresight to bring small scissors. Long flower stems always have to be trimmed shorter because the cemetery flower containers are not very tall.
I noticed a small family group walking to their car as I was getting out of my own. One of the women broke away from the group and asked me if I had brought a tool for trimming my flower stems. I held up my little paper scissors as an answer. She reached into her car trunk and produced a pair of plant clippers, which she used to help me trim my flower stems.
Unexpected Help
She could clearly see I had been negligent in my flower duties, but made no reference to it. Instead, she cheerfully offered suggestions on fitting the long-stemmed bouquet into the short container. As we parted ways, she wished me well.
I have no idea who she was or where she lived. Chances are good that we will never meet again. But her kindness left an impression on me. Surely she must have the same hurried schedule as the rest of us. Maybe she saw the little scissors in my hand beside the stems obviously too thick for paper scissors to cut.
Most people would have mused at how foolish I was to bring paper scissors for flower stems. Instead, she saw a need and offered assistance. In fact, she saw the need before I even knew it existed.
Prayer of Thanks
I was reminded of another person long ago who saw needs and helped. He was not judgmental about failures and shortcomings. He offered suggestions and guidance to those willing to listen.
Maybe it is a good thing these holidays are so close together. If they were further apart we might forget to be thankful for reason we have Christmas. The pressures of creating a perfect holiday might not leave time for reading and reflecting on the guidance He gave us.
As I left the cemetery, I said a prayer of thanksgiving for a stranger's kindness. I also gave thanks for another who long ago reached out to help struggling souls like mine.
