Be a Nameless Angel

Looking back at my life, I am appalled at the things that stressed me out as a different and very responsibility-free younger woman.  I suppose the same may be said someday of the current crises, but, man, I hope not.  Anyway, the point is that life contains some stress, in case any of you was unclear on the topic.

But today's post is not about those things that drive us to the edge.  It is about the angels among us who pull us from that brink.  While it is often our friends (particularly my saintly clan) and family who get us through the day, I am referring to those nameless or relatively unknown folks who guide us through our own personal h-e-double-hockey-sticks.  By virtue of a kind word or a helpful gesture, these people are unsung heroes of everyday life.  For example (and let me warn you, this is a demonstration of how easy I can be), not long ago I was having a really lousy day.  My head was a million miles from my body, and I had even blown past my exit on the expressway.  Realizing that, while I like Wisconsin, I was not willing the spend the evening there, I took the first busy street I could find.  I realized then that I was starving and pulled into the true oasis for those everywhere suffering from depression--KFC.  I really had no desire to talk to anyone, but it beat cooking so I ordered a family meal and pretended to myself that my child would help eat the feast that feeds 7.  When I placed my order, an annoyingly chipper voice took it.  She cracked small jokes and I generally ignored her.  When I pulled to the window, I handed her my money without really looking up.  The woman took it and as she handed me my fried feast she said "Honey, it looks like you could use a good night.  I really hope you have one."  I looked up as she smiled at me and saw that she meant it.  The shock kicked me out of my funk for a good while.  I even forgot to snarl at the guy who dumps his garbage in our dumpsters as I pulled into my parking spot.  For a while at least, this nameless woman made life manageable.

Sure, if it will make you be
nice, go ahead and pretend
you are a VS Angel.

My point is that it took this woman nothing more than 5 seconds to make a difference in my life.  Sure, it wasn't a big difference, but as I felt as though the entire world was against me that day, having someone say that she was in my corner was a big deal to me.  And KFC woman is far from alone.  To lesser--and FAR greater--degrees, my life has recently been filled with so many nameless angels and in a time when I really needed them.  What I am really hopeful of is that they are always there, but I am just noticing them more now because I need them more.  Regardless, folks, it takes next to nothing to say a kind word, or to hold a door, or to smile at someone you have never met or vaguely know.  And doing any of these things may just be the one thing someone you don't even know needs to keep him or her on track.

So, please, strive to be someone's nameless angel.  And thank you to my many angels and to all of you who have made tiny imprints on others' hearts.