I was stunned yesterday when I received an email from a dear friend of mine in Memphis. The email was actually a forwarded email that had been sent to him from a girl with whom I went to high school. I don’t remember her nor the incident about which she writes; but it was important enough to her that she sought me out through him and asked that he let me know.

According to her email, I asked her to be a part of our Homecoming committee and assist with the Homecoming show. Nothing that would seem life changing or eventful in any way, but to her this invitation came at a very low point in her life when things were not going well for her. She remarked in her email that being asked to participate in something so important  (at least to us HS students at the time) was so meaningful.  She said in her email, “Teresa was well respected by the students so it sure made me feel like I was accepted.  The little things go a long way, as you can tell, since I remember it all these years later.”

Indeed, the little things do go a long way. Her email after all these years, her willingness to seek me out through a mutual friend and her candid confession of her personal struggle made a huge difference in my life today. It is very true what is said – never underestimate the simplest acts of kindness. You may never know how it affects someone or the ripple effect it has. I am so grateful to her today for her act of kindness and will do my best to pay that forward today. Feeling grateful.