In my mind, any new
year comes with renewed hope. Know I'm a believer in any moment
being filled with hope, but new years seem to come with extra.
Today I got proof of
that in the form of grace and faith.
After phone calls to
various people at a certain insurance company about various claims
including a potentially killer plumbing bill, I was a wee bit
dismayed.
I took mom to her
usual doc's appointment, had her sign a check so I could pay the
co-pay when I learned we didn't owe one! BONUS number one.
Headed to do some
shopping while she finished up her appointment, returned home to a
few more business calls, when a call came through from Motel 6.
What?
I finish up my
insurance call just in time to answer, and it's a man – Rusty.
He's found a check, of my mother's signed, but blank, in the biggest,
most corporate store in town.
I think. And then I
cry. I realized I'd not put the check meant for the un-owed co-pay
where I normally would as in, a wallet or in my pocket, but in my TO
DO LIST novel, and it had fallen out, in the middle of said corporate
store and this man picked it up, took the time to look up our phone
number and called so I could come pick it up at his temporary home in
a hotel in our town.
There is a level of
amazing that goes with this type of kindness.
When I pulled up to
the hotel where he and his wife are living, as they do work here in
our town.....this large man came out of the room first. I was
grateful I'd taken my friend with me – ya know, just in case, and
then – out comes Rusty. Check in hand, holding it out.
I'd love to tell you
more about that moment – but all I remember is Rusty holding his
hand out to shake mine as I hugged him and cried. And repeating “You
have no idea, you have no idea how grateful I am”. His friend
clapping and saying “Oh, this is a great moment to witness”.
I turned around as I
walked back to the car, blinded by tears of gratefulness, and I saw
his wife peek out the hotel room door. Waving happily.
A few more stops on
the way home of errands and I still could not stop being overwhelmed
by grace. As I pulled into the driveway of home, “What if God Was
One of Us” came on the radio.
So, I cried some
more. And called Rusty at his hotel room to really explain how
important his action was. It was a good idea to call him again. We both admitted
things most strangers do not to most.
Rusty – thank you.
For every moment of each of the lessons learned today.
