Peering out of the living room window, Quinn spots the postman approaching our house. She barks deep and loud. I abandon my iPad, tossing it on the sofa, push my noisy dog into another room and open the front door.
The postman hands me a parcel. A new dress! I smile as I scratch an untidy fingernail signature on the electronic receipt machine.
I’m about to say, “Enjoy the rest of your day!” and head inside, back to my iPad, when the postman asks, “Could I please have a glass of water?” Beads of sweat glisten on the man’s brow. He licks his dry lips. His hopeful eyes meet mine. Will I accept his critical mission?
“Of course!”
With light superhero feet, I fly across the cool tiles to the kitchen, turn the tap, and wait for the sun-boiled water in the pipe to run cold. Then, after filling a large glass almost to the brim, I add a few clinking ice cubes before carrying the life-saving liquid back to the wilting postman.
“It’s far too hot to be without water while you’re delivering the post,” I say as the man drains the glass. “Don’t you have a water bottle?”
The postman tells me he lost his bottle somewhere on his travels, so I ask him if he’d like one of ours. We have hundreds of them. They often tumble out when I open the cupboard door.
“Yes, please.”
With those words, the postman completes the gift. He does another good deed.
In his time of need, on a scorching hot day, the postman accepts my help.
Image by Jacek Dylag, Unsplash
A great reminder as we are about to embark on Lent of how the seemingly smallest things can make a world of difference in our neighbors lives, and thereby our own.
Staci,
You are so right! I was struck by how valuable that simple glass of water was. It quenched my postman’s thirst, but it also made me feel very grateful that I had an opportunity to help someone. We should all ask for help more often, shouldn’t we?
I hope you have a very blessed Lent! 💜
Wow. Thank you, Sue. That I may not only recognize a need, but also to be willing to ask for help and/or humbly accept it when offered. Take care and God bless you. P.S. Love the photo.
Michelle,
I often don’t want to ask for help or accept it because I feel I ought to be able to cope on my own. I don’t want to impose on others. But I felt so happy when the postman entrusted his need to me. I’m glad he asked me for the water!
It’s so lovely to chat. God bless!
Sue, I love this post. The Lord used you to bless your Postman. And I know it felt great for you to help somebody in need. That’s really what the Lord asks of us, kindness to our fellow man. Your great act of kindness really made that man’s day. I have to share with you back many years ago my son and I stopped to get gas in my car and before I could put my credit card in the pump all of a sudden a man appeared at my side and he said I’ll pay for that for you, and I said oh no no please don’t do that. That’s too kind of you. And he said no I want to do it. And all I want you to do is pay it forward and I turned and his wife was sitting in the truck that he had come in waiting on him and she waved her hand and smiled so I let the man pay for my gas and I hope he was blessed many times over because I sure paid it forward as many times as I could after.
Nancy,
Kindness is so important, isn’t it? We might not like everyone, but we can always be kind. Unexpected kindnesses really touch our hearts. The man paying for your gas obviously touched yours. It sounds like kindness can flow from person to person. I love that image!
He was so lucky to ring on your door! My kids loose so many water bottles…
Luana,
The postman could so easily have asked one of my neighbours for the water, but he asked me. I’m glad about that! We could afford to lose a few water bottles – or give them away. I don’t know how we have collected so many of them!
I hope you have a blessed Lent! 😊