I think we can all agree: nothing turns a bad day around faster than kindness from a stranger.
It can be as simple as someone holding the door as you juggle your boss’ complicated coffee order, or as involved as someone reaching out and changing your whole life, as we saw with this single dad and his unexpected savior.
Those simple acts of kindness have a ripple effect, spreading love and hope and heartwarming human goodness from person to person. It’s something we cherish here at LittleThings, and it’s something that lots of individuals have had the opportunity to experience firsthand.
But few have seen the balance of human kindness ebb and flow quite like Amanda Sullivan.
She survived not one but two catastrophic car accidents, became an athlete, and met the love of her life, Cpl. Todd Love, all through the ups and downs of this unpredictable world and the people in it.
In October 2015, life dealt her another card when her mother was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer, and began undergoing chemo treatments.
Amanda, a devoted daughter, stopped by the local Whole Foods to pick up her mom’s favorite smoothie as a pick-me-up surprise. When she got there, she met someone who would “restore [her] faith in humanity.”
In her own words on Love What Matters, here is what Amanda experienced that day…
I stopped at Whole Foods Market on Tuesday, excited to surprise my mom with her favorite smoothie of all: Banana! After I ordered the drink, I realized that I’d made a huge mistake and had to cancel the order. The woman who took my order was very kind and didn’t seem angered by my change of heart, which made me feel relieved.”
“I told her that I completely forgot that my Mom is going through Chemotherapy treatments and can’t drink or eat anything cold. ‘She has a chemo bag attached to her for the next 46 hours and is extremely sensitive to the cold right now,’ I said.”
“‘I totally understand! I have two family members going through chemo right now, too,’ she replied. ‘Does your mom like Almond Milk? I could easily make her a smoothie without ice and with room-temperature almond milk. My goddaughter, Diamond, loved her smoothies that way,’ she continued.”
“Ever since my mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October, things have been very chaotic. It never even occurred to me that I could make my mom’s favorite drink that way, because I have been so focused on a million other things. I excitedly yelled, ‘Yes, please! That would be perfect!!’ and introduced myself.”
“My new friend told me that her name is Natasha and that she loves working at Whole Foods Market for this EXACT reason — so she can help others stay on top of their nutritional goals & health. Natasha proceeded to give me a long list of other natural drinks with electrolytes that will hydrate my mom and settle her queezy tummy.”
“‘My goddaughter, Diamond, was diagnosed with cancer at Stage IV. It had already spread all over her body. She passed away at only 12 years of age…’ Her voice trailed off and her eyes filled with tears.”
“I told Natasha that my mom was already Stage IV, too, when her cancer was found and that I was so sorry to hear about Diamond’s passing. As she made my mom’s smoothie, Natasha and I talked about God, angels and love. It’s hard to put into words what this random encounter did to uplift my spirits and boost my mood. I was feeling very stressed about my mom’s diagnosis when I headed into the store moments before. Natasha’s vibrant smile, kind words & compassion instantly soothed my soul.”
“We constantly hear about all the negative aspects of society in the news. It’s easy to go about your day feeling alone and smothered in problems. And, then, you come across someone, like Natasha Barnes, at Whole Foods in Madison, NJ, and you realize that there are truly good-hearted, beautiful people who care, all around us.”
“I thanked Natasha over and over again for all of her advice and encouragement before leaving with my mom’s smoothie. Natasha flashed me another huge smile and pleaded, ‘Wait!!!’”
“She then ran from behind the counter and gave me a huge hug. It may seem simple. But, Natasha’s actions were life-changing for me & a reminder that angels are all around us. It only took a few minutes of conversation for her to restore my faith in humanity. Hopefully, Natasha’s kindness, my mom’s strength & both of their smiles restore your faith in humanity, too.”
Was your heart touched by this beautiful story of kindness and kismet? Make sure to SHARE on Facebook with everyone who will be moved by Amanda and Natasha’s spectacular chance encounter!