Witnessing kindness

We recently moved into a new neighborhood that is...transitioning. There aren't very many kids in our neighborhood because most of the people there are "original" owners...and the homes are 35+ years old. Still, all of our neighbors, especially in our immediate cul-de-sac, have been extraordinarily nice and welcoming.

We've had cookies, brownies and a pie delivered to our door. The couple across the street has given us an open invitation to use their pool whenever we want. The couple at the top of the cul-de-sac mowed a path for us from their back gate to the park just behind them. In short, we feel very blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of this community.

Recently, our immediate neighbor has been experiencing some pretty significant health problems. They are an older couple and he has Parkinson's disease. We knew he has been in and our of hospitals and rehabs recently, but even through his trials, she comes home from a long day of nurturing to water her gorgeous flowers, chat with the neighbors, return my children's shoes from her back yard to our front door...even offer us a bag of freshly picked fruit from her trees.

Being the newbies on the block, I don't ask too many questions, but we've heard her husband recently moved to a hospice, which is never good news for a loving wife. I hadn't seen her since hearing this news....until this morning. I was cleaning the kids' bathroom when, out the window, I saw her pull up with her daughter.

As she got out of the car, she looked a bit frail and very tired. Instead of walking into the house, I saw her take a quick scan of the cul-de-sac that she's called home for 30+ years and then slowly walk over to the neighbor's house. Gingerly, she picked up the huge Sunday edition of the Denver Post from the middle of the driveway, walked to the front door, and gently placed it on the welcome mat. She did the same for two other neighbors, while her daughter stood patiently in the drive-way, watching...almost as if she fully expected her to do this.

When all was well with the papers, she meandered back to her house and walked arm-in-arm with her daughter through the front door. I don't know why this hit me, other than the fact that she is probably going through the most difficult experience of her life right now, but she still went out of her way to make someone else's life a tiny bit easier today. Without knowing it, she inspired me.