5.24.2007

the law of attraction and the goodness of human kind

You can tell this is going to be an upbeat post, right? You are right. My heart sings. Today...our van got fixed. YES! My sister Cory "showed up" for me by piling us into her car and taking us to pick up our working van. Josh got home and I was just TOOOO excited NOT to drive that van around town. Did I mention that the van is WORKING??? We decided to go celebrate. Totally illogical because of the fact that all of our money has gone into fixing the van...but that is beside the point. Sometimes life just calls for irrationality. We agreed on Olive Garden. We were enjoying our meal and in the middle of it, an older couple approached us on their way out. The gentlemen placed his hand on my shoulder and delivered a sweet and short compliment to our family. "You have such a beautiful family." I smile surprisingly at him, thank him and then just watch in joy as he and his wife walk away. I say something to Josh about how nice that was...how I love when people act on the things they feel in their heart and how that meant so much to me. I love when people are bold. Asher was in a particularly wonderful mood and he was minding his own business the entire dinner. There was no food throwing. No silverware went flying through the air. No shrieks were heard besides a loud growl coming from our toddler who had become a shark who was eating his chicken strips which had appropriately become fishies. It really was a wonderful meal. And then the check came. That is when it became an unbelievable meal. The server mumbles something about someone doing something....I was only half paying attention...but my focus centered when he handed me the bill. In it was a piece of paper with a note stating this: "Your dinner has been bought and paid for by another Olive Garden guest. Thank you" I look up at our waiter and have too many questions for him that he doesn't have the answers for. He described the woman who was with the gentleman who complimented our family. He said that she told him we were a wonderful family. Oh the sweetness. If that doesn't make you want to pay it forward I don't know what would. We leave the restaurant in a state of quasi disbelief. We just keep saying to one another..."That was so awesome!" As we walk out the door one of the young waiters looks at Journey and says "She is just SOOOO cute. You both are so blessed." I smile and thank him for his reminder. We climb into our van (the one that is working) and make our way home. We stop to give Sweet-E a bath to let her know how happy we are to have her back. We sit in the car wash with the radio playing "Lean on Me". I sing along. Josh holds on to Asher's hand because of his inability to decided whether he absolutely LOVES the car wash or is terrified beyond belief. It was a sweet moment for me. Good things are happening. My heart sings.

6 comments:

Debbie said...

Jess, you and your family deserved a day like this. You are all blessed by everything in your life. This really shows that living life to the fullest and making the most of every moment is the best way to live. What a wonderful message to pass goodness and love forward. I will for sure take this with me. Enjoy your van!

Cory said...

Jess that is soooo awesome. It is moments like that that just warms your heart with the appreciation of GOOD PEOPLE!!! If only they knew the weeks leading up to that dinner. Who knows, maybe they did! I'm glad your van is back in action. Bless those wonderful human beings out there that make a point to touch the lives of others.

GG said...

How beautiful Jessie! This post made me cry.
GG

Simplicity Wins said...

Oh Jess, That is so wonderful! It is like something you see in the movies, I did not think that ever really happened in real life. That couple, whoever they were, are living their life so passionately. To be blest financially is nothing at all unless you give some away...and they did. I am happy you and your family were lucky enough to be on the receiving end of their generosity. I am so excited for you that your van is working and you can be mobile with your kiddos again.

Jamie said...

These "people" are called angels. I'm so thankful we have angels looking out for our family. :) What a wonderful gesture of human kindness and compassion. I love it!

Anonymous said...

THIS EXACT THING happened to us! I was so surprised to read this post, we had the very same thing happen, with someone approaching us and telling us that we had a beautiful family, and then paying for our dinner without telling us! And we felt so special too, like it was just a beautiful gift from God. Wow.