The little things

Last week I took some time to reflect on the last 12 months. The last year hasn't been the easiest but on reflection I recalled the highs as well as the lows. And while reflecting on the lows I could identify that I was never alone even though at the time I may have felt I was.

While reflecting on the last 12 months the impact that the 'little things' had on me hit me and I became oh so grateful.  The people who carried out these kind acts may have seen them as small but to me they were huge and have had such an important impact on my life.

These kind acts are as follows:
The priest who during a healing service at which he annointed me with oil took a couple of moments to lay his hands on me and pray over me in silence.  I doubt that priest had any idea of how difficult I was finding things that night.

The brother who when I told I needed to 'get out of my head' took the time to talk to me and even though we spoke of where my head was he didn't dwell on it. At the time the last thing I wanted was to talk about where my head was but he obviously felt he needed to know what he was helping to take me away from by spending time with me. During that conversation when I told him where my head was he asked me how well I knew X. As always I felt the need to justify my grief for X. We spent a few minutes talking about it. I can't remember the brother's words but he reminded me that I didn't need to justify my grief, that people grieve in different ways and at different stages and that it was okay to be said for even though I only knew X a short time he meant something to me. So now when asked that question I no longer feel the need to justify.

He friend who was running late to meet me and pushes back a meeting they have after meeting me in order to ensure they can spend a decent amount of time with me. Or when the same friend leaves a meeting that they didn't realize would b so long to meet me as originally planned.  Or when I told this friend that I might need more time than usual and they made the time for me. These  made me feel so important.

The friend who put my arms around me and hugged me tight every time I seen them.

The bishop who after receiving an email from me just thanking him for such a nice homily replies by telling me to say hello if I am in his area. And then saying he would be delighted to see me when I told him I was planning to b in his area.  I have never actually met this bishop so the fact that he told me a stranger to say hello when i am in his area meant so much,  willing to welcome a stranger in. I look forward to meeting him.

The personal invite to an event when I wasn't feeling great.  I had been thinking of going to the event but had changed my mind.  The personal invite from someone I still didn't know that well at the time made me feel wanted.  And then this person introducing me to people at the event and sticking with me.

The friend who travelled an hour and a half to visit me because they knew I needed a friend.

The priest who stepped out of his prayers with his brothers to ring me cause he knew I needed to talk.

Getting a leffer from the nuncio always made me smile as it meant a lot that he took the time to respond,  made me feel important.

So you see it is not just big acts of kindness that impact. For me the small ones are just as important.