A Long Lift Home

A friend of mine at work, Kathleen (one of the kindest people I know), forward this story to me today...

"Here’s one to pass on.

While at the Watertown Registry of Motor Vehicles this past Friday, I heard an elderly woman named Janice, asked the clerk whom she should call to get a taxi to Brookline. Her daughter had to leave the Registry to pick her son up from day care. Janice’s business was not finished so she had to stay.
In the meantime Janice looked distraught as she had just moved to Brookline from Amherst. I volunteered to drive her home, however, was not certain how to get to Brookline from Watertown.

What an adventure. Janice had no idea, I had no real sense of how to get there, however, since I had committed to taking this dear lady home, I had to ask for help from the Watertown police, who had pulled someone over for a traffic violation. The officer was not really certain how to direct us since he did not know where Coolidge Corner Trader Joes’ was located. Janice’s daughter would be able to pick her up there. ( Janice is 80 years old ).

Janice and I had a great time laughing about our dilemma. Through prayer and asking a lady for directions, we wound up at Trader Joe’s after 40 minutes, which was better timing then Janice had anticipated. Have made a new friend, Janice and I will stay in touch.
Practice patience.
The lesson for the children…be aware of other’s needs. Be committed to help if possible. Ask others to join in to help out. Practice patience. It’s important to try to comfort another person while they are in a stressful situation. Be willing to spend time or money if need be. Look for opportunities to be helpful, however, be prepared, some people do not accept offers of help. Could be they are fearful of being vulnerable."

Bishop Fulton Sheen used to say “ if everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be.”