Dumbfounded by kindness

I went to a member's house for dinner last night. I've been wanting to get to know this particular family more since starting at St. Luke and they've welcomed me into one of the toughest times they've had to go through. I was every tickled and excited that they invited me for dinner. When I asked if there was anything that I could bring for dinner (Mom would be so proud and most likely is after reading that part), I was told to bring whatever I was known for making. Well, I'm not known for making spinach balls (an family favorite in my family) but I made the offer to bring spinach balls. I've loved them since I was a really young. I always asked for them when I was home from college and to have them for my birthday when I was growing up.  So after office hours yesterday, I went home and made spinach balls. Once they were all cooked, I drove to the otherside of Memphis to my member's house.

I walked into the house and the first thing that I smelled was bacon. For most of my friends, they know that the way to my heart is via bacon. I took my spinach balls to the kitchen, played with their oldest son for a little bit, talked with the dad about life and my fiance, and got to hold their youngest son who will be turning 3 months old soon. Then it was time for dinner. When I asked what we were having, the mom looked at me and said that we were having lazy perogies with a Southern twist of bacon. If you know me, you know that I love perogies....either in traditional form or in lazy form. Now, this family grew up in the South. Perogies aren't exactly part of Southern food culture unless you are a transplant from up North. The mom of the family said that she hoped the lazy perogies were like the ones that I'm used to.

I'm fairly certain that I stood in their kitchen with my mouth open for a couple of minutes because of her concern for the taste of the lazy perogies. I was literally dumbfounded by their kindness. It was so sweet of them to take that step to make me feel at home and comfortable. I'm still pretty much speechless about that alone (No comments please).

Then (as if the lazy perogies weren't enough!) they handed me a card that they were going to send to me but didn't have my address to do so. It was a thank you card. I'm not going to say what the card said (honestly, it's too personal and I'd rather keep it between the family and myself). I was so incredable touched. I honestly could have cried.

It's the little things like the kindness of this family that make my job super rewarding. Whether or not they know this, they actually ministered to me last night. I actually felt like I was back at my host family's house with all of the love and laughter that has happening. I will very much remember this kindness for the rest of my life. This family has made a lasting impression that I hope will only get deeper and deeper as time goes on.