It is surprising what a simple gesture of kindness can mean
in a person’s life. As I look back on my life, I realize that there were a few
people who greatly influenced me. The amazing thing is that in every case the
things they did were small simple things–so small the people have no idea what
an impact they had on me. But even though they don’t remember what they did, I
do.
Growing up in what was then the small town of Centerville, my friends and I
used to visit the older ladies that lived on our street. Two of these
especially influenced me by their kindness. Mrs. Torrey once gave me an old
book, Heidi, with the simple words, “I have only sons and so I want you to have
this.” It made me feel so very special and important.
When only five years old, I’d write “books” of my own, illustrate them and go
door to door selling them. Mrs. Torrey and Aunt Nora would praise my books so
much that it felt like they filled me with helium.
Later, in high school, an English teacher, Miss Lee, encouraged my writing. She
wrote at the end of one assignment words that I memorized. “Sherrie, You’ve got
it–whatever it is. Don’t ever stop writing!!!” I can’t even count how many time
those two sentences saved me when encountering editors who rejected my
manuscripts and through many other bumps in life.
Other friends such as Lucille Reading and Laurie Thornton warmed, encouraged
and bolstered me, again without knowing what an impact they were having on my life.
They just did what was natural for them. They loved me despite my faults.
Whenever I’d get discouraged, I’d go visit Lucille and I’d come away lifted.
When I went, I didn’t talk about my problems. I just knew that being in her
presence for a little while would “cure” me. She was that kind of person.
Laurie was the same way. Laurie was blind, but she had learned to laugh with
life despite the fact that life had handed her some bad cards, and her laughter
was infectious.
Often we read about people who have a mentor that takes them by the hand and
plays a major part in their lives the way Anne Sullivan did in Helen Keller’s
life. That does happen. But in my own life the most impactful influences have
been brief, small occurrences like my young women’s leader, Barbara Davis, who
despite the fact that I was being a brat during the lesson one night, patiently
put up with me. Her love and kindness that night communicated a love to me that was much needed at the time.
The reason I bring this up is because we too often underestimate the power we
have to impact others. We never know when something as simple as a smile, a
hug, a phone call, or an encouraging word is just what someone needs to send
them on their way injected with hope–a hope that can last a lifetime. We are
more influential than we realize, and we need to be more aware of the power we
have to encourage others and then use that power.
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