 The Gift of Life
Last week, a longtime friend of mine visited me in Maryland from Rhode Island and we were enjoying a relaxing evening grilling burgers under a beautiful summer sky. We were laughing and reminiscing as she flipped the burgers and filled the neighborhood with the delicious aroma that only a summertime barbeque can create. As we readied ourselves to sit down and sink our teeth into our mouthwatering dinner, my phone rings. It’s my hubby with a flat tire. He has our puppy in the car with him and he needs me to come get him so he can fix the flat. He is less then 5 minutes away from home. Infuriated at the inconvenience of the moment, I run to his rescue, the whole time aggravated that my night was seemingly ruined.
Sure enough, the tire was as flat as could be. He ran over a sharp object in the road and now we would have to buy a new one. So he calls our trusted mechanic and tells him our woes. By the time my puppy and I returned home, my husband called me to tell me that our mechanic’s wife was in the hospital. His wife is a friend of mine who I haven’t spoken with in months. He continues to tell me that my friend, Jamie, donated one of her kidneys to a colleague of hers who was in desperate need of a transplant. This colleague, a father of two children under sixteen and loyal husband to his wife, received the greatest gift he will more than likely ever receive in his life. Jamie saved his life and helped secure the hope that he will enjoy his family for many decades to come. She had no intention of telling anyone other than her husband and immediate family that she risked her life to save another. When I visited her at her home two days later, sure enough, she brushed off her heroic action as nothing more than something that anyone would do if they could.
That flat tire was one of the best things to happen to me. It reminded me that as long as we have health, we have countless opportunities to make up for ruined activities. But more importantly, it reminded me that as long as there are selfless people like Jamie in this world, there is little anyone can do to darken my new, bright perspective on this beautiful world of which I am grateful to be a part.
To help us celebrate life and all of its beautiful joys, we have a fun project to share with you, “Pumpkin Pals ”. |
