Did you know angels drive big, black trucks and often tell people they’re from Jamestown? At least that’s the way they are described in a recent letter I received.
Actually, Angels of Kindness drive a lot of different vehicles and live in every town in America (and beyond). Some make a lot of money, some not so much. Some are old, some are young. Some are vibrant and in perfect health, others struggle with their own daily battles.
The one thing these Angels of Kindness have in common is the size of their hearts.
Have you ever seen “How the Grinch Stole Christmas?” When I was kid, I waited anxiously for the day when Whoville would come to life in my living room during its one airing each December on network TV. It debuted in 1966, it still runs every year, and I still watch it.
My kids now own the DVD of the newer Jim Carrey take on the Grinch. Either way, the point is the same. The Grinch went from a heart that was two sizes too small, to one that grew three sizes in one day.
“And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say – that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then – the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of TEN Grinches, plus two!” – “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” by Dr. Seuss
That’s kind of the way it is with Angels of Kindness. For some reason, their hearts are just bigger than average. And often, they seem to have the strength of ten angels plus two.
I got a letter from an 85-year-old man who explained how fortunate you feel when your path happens to intersect with one.
“I flew into the Fargo airport the other day and was not met by the person who had offered to pick me up. I waited about 15 minutes and was nearly ready to get into a cab and head home.
“That’s when I met two girls from Jamestown who were waiting to pick up friends. We started talking, and I was telling them my problem.
“My cellphone was dead, but the girls helped me get enough charge on my phone to find my friend’s number in my contacts and attempt to call him. Unfortunately, he didn’t answer.
“The people the Jamestown girls were waiting for arrived, but before they walked away, the girls asked where I lived. I told them I was in south Fargo, quite a ways south of I-94.
“They put my luggage in the back of their vehicle and took me home. This was really out of their way, but they insisted on driving me.
“What an act of kindness! I didn’t get their names to thank them, but the girls were driving the largest black pickup I had ever seen in my life. If anyone should recognize who they are, I sure hope they will congratulate them on what they did.”
There are no special qualifications or training required to become an official Angel of Kindness. You just have to be willing to show the size of your heart when someone in need crosses your path.
Please continue to share your stories of kindness with me at info@nicolejphillips.com. Or send a letter to Kindness is Contagious c/o Nicole J. Phillips, The Forum, 101 5th St. N., Box 2020, Fargo, ND, 58107.