I was excited when I looked at the envelope and realized the return address was from one of my dearest friends who had moved to Washington this summer. I tore into the envelope, just to feel her presence near. I knew she had touched that card. She had held it in her hands. Out fell the most gorgeous card I have seen in a long time and, with it, the essence of my sweet friend. It was as if she had somehow folded up a little piece of her angel presence and stuffed it in there for me to find. And, on the front, there was one word:
Peace
I smiled because it was so like her. Simple and straight to the point. Inside, there was a picture of her and her daughter. I smiled and wanted to reach inside the photograph and pull her out to be with me here. I miss spending time listening to her beautiful voice belt out her heart in her songs. I miss hearing her silly jokes and hearing her lilting laugh. I miss watching her transform on stage and transcend earth when she sings – so totally in the moment while, at the same time, somewhere ethereal. I miss her strength and fragility and humanness.
Then I read the card:
Happy Holidays!
I love you!
Someone did this for me once.
When you can, do it for another single mother.
Kisses my dear!
For a moment, I was stumped, I didn’t know to what she was referring. Someone did what for her once? And then I spied it. Hidden behind the photograph was another slip of paper. Sneaky her!
Oh. My…… God!
I couldn’t help it. The tears were springing out of my eyes before I even understood what I was looking at. It was a check. A check of a substantial amount. Someone had done that for her once, although I had never known that. And she chose to pay it forward with me.
Oh my god…. even now, I cry. What a beautiful gift of love!
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