It’s been awhile since I have had the time to post on Thoughtful Thursdays. Feels good to be back and I am grateful that I have lots to share. Ironically I have been graced with many “thoughtful” moments from good friends, family and chance meetings with strangers who will never know how they touched my life with their smile, their kindness or simple gestures of goodwill.
I keep running across decorative signs that have quotes about kindness. I doubt these encounters are accidents as I feel we could all use a reminder that we all need a little kindness in our lives whether we are giving or receiving. Often when I experience a random act of kindness or even an intentional one I am reminded how good it feels and then I try to pay it forward.
In March our daughters and I gave my hubby a surprise retirement party. It had to be a surprise because he would have never let me honor him with a party. I, however, knew he would love it and he did.
I had to do alot of trusting and letting go the day of the party. The restaurant we were using was pretty loose on the arrangements and I started stressing over little things. Wondering if they would have enough servers, what if the food took forever, would they have it all set up?? Because I was in charge of getting Paul there and maintaining the surprise I had to let that all go. Our daughters were in charge of set up ( cake, photos, decorations) and greeting the guests. AND then Paul started hammering me with questions. He believed it was a surprise party for our daughter’s birthday and he kept questioning everything. I was sure the gig was up but it was not. As you can see he was totally surprised and happy!
Surprise!
And then people did some little things that were actually big. A friend who could not make it to the party wrote the funniest toast. I briefly saw it on my email but as luck would have it my computer printer died the day before. I let it go figuring I could just read it from my phone. Never fear our good friend Les printed it up and read it at the party and it was perfect. More perfect than if I had asked him to do it. His wife Tammy stepped in and cut the cake…one thing I had not thought of but her gesture of kindness and just doing what needed to be done was so appreciated.
The restaurant service was amazing. Above and beyond anything I expected.
All in all it was a success. Yes we planned and set things into motion but the real success came from just letting go, trusting it would work out and experiencing the kindness of all our friends who were willing to drive quite a distance to be there and celebrate Paul and then jump in and help without being asked.
Yes..it is so true…In a world where you can be anything…
Be Kind
And of course “Thoughtful”
Now go make it a Thoughtful one…Jennifer
Congratulations! -Wish we could have been there!! ♡