May
27, 2014
My
instead: I took a dessert treat to one
of my clients.
Surrendering
to my sweet tooth craving, I had made a peach dump cake the prior evening. That
next morning I had work to do for my 89-year-old client, Rich. As usual, I was
pondering about what to do as my “instead”. Why not take a dessert treat to
Rich! He’s been widowed less than a year and still seems like a lost little
lamb at times. Maybe that would cheer him up! I also surprised my mom by
stopping by on the way to Rich’s house with a piece of the dessert!
After
I knocked and entered Rich’s kitchen, I found him busy hanging new curtains he
had just bought from Wal-Mart. With pride and pleasure, I immediately presented
to him my delicious peach dessert. “I don’t eat fruit” was his comeback. I
could feel the disappointment take residence on my face. Nope, can’t let him
see that. Then I jokingly said, “Fruit is good for you…it’ll help you to live a
long life”. He didn’t get it. Like a little
boy, he retorted “I eat plenty of vegetables”. I put the lid back onto the
container of dessert and went on with the business of hanging curtains.
My
Aunt Dora lives across the street from Rich, so I called her and asked if I
could bring over a surprise. I took the previously-rejected dessert to her and
she accepted it graciously. Ah, that felt so much better…simple gratitude. And
she even knew she was the second choice for receiving the treat.
My
act of kindness towards Rich was totally altruistic. I expected nothing in
return…but maybe a “thank you”. And sometimes one does not even get that…but
that doesn’t mean that I should stop being kind. The thank you will come, if
not now, then…if not from Aunt Dora, from someone who gets it.
I’ll
just keep on giving…
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