Have you ever had someone do something for you that meant everything to you…an unexpected kindness that touched you deeply?

I’ve experienced many, but two that come to mind immediately are both distant and recent.

Eleven years ago, when my husband and I returned from China with our adopted twin daughters and he had to return to work, both girls were ill with ear infections that the medications didn’t seem to touch.  After one daughter vomited all over the three of us and a pile of clean laundry, I called Lorna, a neighbor, for advice. She volunteered to accompany me – a novice mother – to the pediatrician with my daughters. As if that wasn’t enough, she mentioned it to another neighbor, Carol, who showed up at my door that evening with homemade spaghetti and meat sauce, Italian bread, salad and dessert. I was so touched, I almost wept.

Although I thanked them, I don’t think they could ever realize what their kindness meant to me that day when I was exhausted, frazzled, ill myself (as it turned out),  and insecure in my new role as mother of twins.

Then recently, when I returned to my car in a hotel parking lot after a meeting, my passenger side window had been smashed in for the GPS that I’d neglected to remove. Although there was really no harm – other than having to drive home in 40° weather with a wind tunnel running through the car – the sense of violation was very upsetting.  That day, my friend Debra, came to my rescue. Not only did she wait with me while I called the police, she offered to treat me to dinner at the hotel while I contacted the insurance company.

If you asked any of these women about their actions, I’m sure they’d dismiss their kindness as, “Oh, it was nothing.” But to me, at that moment, it meant everything.

On this first day of 2012, remember to pass on kindness. To you a random act of kindness may be no more that something you’d do for any friend or perhaps even a stranger. To them, it may mean everything.

What random act of kindness have you been shown that meant everything to you?