The Kindness of Strangers

I was in awe when Brian was hospitalized by the kindness of strangers. Most of the strangers were fellow Christians--all lifting him up in prayer, but some gave of their time, finances and other resources. It was comforting being surrounded by family, friends and strangers who all had one goal--to provide comfort and love to Brian and those around him.

This week, I'm in awe again by the Kindness of Strangers. When I was pregnant with Christopher, I joined an online mom's board of women all due May 2007. We all welcomed our babies into the world and a bond was formed. A bond that many people can't understand.

In August 2010, one of our board regulars announced that she was recently diagnosed with cancer--lung that had spread. She was one of the strongest women I have known. Her husband is special forces and was deployed more often than not and with 4 young girls at home, she faced every challenge prior to the cancer with determination, eagerness, and a positive attitude.

She has fought cancer the same way. Coming on every couple of weeks to update us on her status--always making a comment to make us laugh and smile and always being there to give advice, a huge, or honest opinion.

We found out late last week that she was a lot sicker than we had known. Hospice had been called in. As a group 60+ women came togehter to find someway to let her and her family know how much she has met. We may have never met her, but we knew her.

As we changed our status on facebook, changed our profile pic to her favorite show and worked hard to make sure that she got the vow renweals that she wanted before she died, that her daughters 4th birthday didn't get overlooked in the midst of her last days, that her husband didn't have to worry about food, cleaning house, running errands...I was brought to tears many times.

But. Im more amaazed by the strangers who are stepping forward. An etsy store expediatring lockets for her girls, another etsy store making an out for free, school age boy writing the girls a letter because his mom recently died, people donating to her family. It blows my mind.

As I held Christopher today and told him about our friends sister who is dying and explaining to him why its sad to us that shes going to live with Jesus and her friends and family need our prayers, it really hit me how many lives we touch.

I have never met Randi, but thousands of lives are being touched by her life and the strangers coming together to make the last few days as easy as possible. But, we shouldnt wait for those last days. We need to make that difference today