I started Valentines Day, with my usual morning walk with my heart dog Beau. Most days we see a homeless man riding a bike to get his breakfast. He is a senior Hispanic man and always smiles a huge toothless grin and sings Hello Poochie at Beau as he slowly rides by. On this day he coasted to a stop, leaned over and patted his leg. Beau walked to him, and he stood, one leg up and the other down, bending down, standing with his head down almost to the ground, hugging and petting and making smoochie sounds. He stood back up and as he rode away, he said THANK YOU!!!! I sang Thank YOU!
60 seconds after he left, I heard the sound of a huge truck stopping beside me and turning to see who it was, there sat a HUGE Purple Pickup, 4 Wheel Drive truck with a handsome young millennial male, dark curls, huge smile, was hanging out waving at me and Yelling Happy Valentines Day. He was the picture of joy and happiness. Talking about a blessed heart, I had one.. So unexpected.
Two acts of random kindness prepared my heart to receive the news as I started the walk home, I received a text from Jackie's husband, Richard, my best friend Jackie had passed away at home at 6 AM, Feb 14, 2025.
In the past 4 years, one by one, my friends, Ann, Catherine, Carol, Madeline and Loretta from my hometown of Savannah, GA, passed away, leaving me with my BFF Jackie, living only a 4 minutes' drive away. She and her husband Richard were the Go-to If needed for us, able to enter our home and rescue Beau if needed, my text/talk/email daily, Local friend. My call or visit and vent to friend, my loved me and cared about me friend. She loved Beau and he loved her.
❤️ In 1982, magazine writer and editor Anne Herbert coined the phrase "practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty." Random Acts of Kindness Week, started Feb 9 found on The Frog and Penguinn later in the morning.
22 comments:
You are so perceptive. I do believe this was a little gift for what you were about to go through. God spoke to these men. This is a lovely tribute to your wonderful friend!
Ohhhhh, I am so sorry to read this blog. I am happy you had such a good friend and my heart breaks for you. Healing wishes and big huggs.
Hari OM
The condolences flow from me also - but my heart dances that you had the experience of these two delightful fellows whose hearts flowed with Love of the capital 'ell' kind. Gifts indeed. YAM xx
So sorry for the loss of your close friend; and it is indeed also extra tough to lose several old friends within a rather short time span. I'm glad you did meet those two guys on the same day practising "random kindness" - sometimes one really needs the reminder...
Hello Sandra,
I am so sorry to hear your lost your friend Jackie.
It does seem like the two men and their greetings made you day brighter. Unexpected acts of kindness are a blessing. Take care, wishing you a happy day!
I am so very sorry for your loss. I know you will miss your dear friend.
It does seem like those two men on your morning walk were preparing you for the news. I'm glad that you experienced that.
I am very sorry for the loss of your dear friend. It is the inevitability of getting older that we start to lose our family and friends. We have been to several funerals recently and suspect that another will be coming up shortly. May Jackie’s memory be a blessing.
Gosh, it's hard to lose our dear friends. Especially long standing ones like that. God sent you want you needed even before you knew you needed it. There are angels amoungst us. HE is so good. Sorry for your loss.
Love & Prayers. 🙏💖
Oh, my dear Sandra, I am so very sorry for your loss of your dear friend Jackie. I can well imagine how much you are going to miss her presence in your life. Sending warm (((hugs))) to you and prayers for you and her husband and family too. How perfectly wonderful that God sent those sweet "angels of kindness" to you just prior to hearing that news. I love that. God knew exactly what you needed even before you knew you needed it. How like our loving, compassionate and comforting Savior! My heart goes out to you today as you grapple with this reality, but yet how sweet that it has been surrounded with love and kindness already. May your dear friend rest in peace. I know she has been suffering for quite a while, and now she is at complete rest and peace. That is a blessing for her, but I know it is hard for the rest of you. More (((hugs))). May God be with you.
I agree that God sent those gifts of kindness to you to prepare you. I'm so sorry for this loss and will be praying for you.
Sandra I do think you were correct about the kindness of the folks on your EMW on 2/14/25. I'm so very sorry about Jackie and especially sorry for the deep loss you feel. She and her husband were full of kindness
Hugs Cecilia
We're so sad to hear your dear friend has passed. How sweet that those two guys gave you the lift you needed that day.
Hello this is Jackie’s daughter. I just wanted to show my appreciation for such a lovely tribute to my mom. Sandra is her close dear friend and I’m so happy my mom had all the support of good people in her life. The loss isn’t easy but we are grateful that she is no longer suffering in pain in this mortal world. Some of her last words to me were “be kind” which goes in hand to the acts of kindness mentioned. I’m going to try hard to live up this moving forward. Thank you again for the lovely tribute. My mom is smiling down and protecting us. 😊
You have been on my mind all these last 24 hours, but until now I didn't know what you meant about two moments of joy. Wow. Random, not so random. What's that verse (about) entertain angels unaware.
Thank you for sharing your day, your sweet heart.
Sandra, sending my deepest condolences on the unexpected passing of your friend, Jackie. I do believe that people enter our lives and sadly leave them but in between there are such moments of joy. The experiences you described in meeting those two gentlemen before hearing the news about Jackie only confirmed that belief. Also, thank you for commenting on Random Acts of Kindness from my blog post.
My dear friend Sandra. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. I know this leaves you with a tremendous loss in your heart. How thankful I am for the two men who brought joy and happiness to you just before hearing the news. My prayers for you and for her family as you go through these next few days and weeks. Grief is hard and we must always lift those we love up in prayer. Asking God for His comfort and peace to blanket you.
Sandra, I am VERY sorry about your loss of a friend. It is so sad. I call those two wonderful moments God Winks. I'm glad you received them, and I am glad you recognized them as from God. I hate to say this, but I have lost several good friends too and I still think of them. I will be saying prayers for ALL of you. ♥
I’m sorry your friend has passed. It’s surreal when our friends leave for their forever home. Those random acts of kindness were totally from God. What a kind Heavenly Father we have. Hugs to you all during this time of grieving. 🙏🏻
Debby
I am so very sorry to hear about your friend Jackie. She was a most important part of your life as you were in hers. Prayers and love to her special husband too.
(((Hugs))) my friend. I am so sorry for the loss of your bestie. God knew how your heart would ache and He gave you some Random Kindness and Love that you were sorely going to need.
Prayers dearest Sandra.
Sue
I am so sorry for your loss, Sandra. It's so hard to lose our precious friends...they can never be replaced. I'm glad you had some kindness shown to you along the way. When I walk on trails that other people use, everyone always speaks and it makes me feel so uplifted. Just a hello or a smile goes a long way in this hard old world. Hugs to you my friend, Diane
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your dear friend. I don't mind getting older, but I do dread the day when those close to me start passing away. I know you feel your loss deeply. The two acts of kindness must surely be hugs from God.
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