A few weeks ago, on a cold and damp day, my husband Adam spent hours outside at my mom’s house trying to cut up a massive tree that had been badly damaged in a storm. My mom’s home sits on the corner of a four-way intersection, so everyone passing by could see what was going on. As Adam worked, several vehicles stopped and asked if they could have some of the wood once he was done.
Then a man pulled over and asked if he could help in exchange for some of the wood. Adam had days of backbreaking work ahead of him, so he gladly accepted. The man introduced himself as Chris, and it turned out he lived just up the road. He knew which dogs belonged to everyone in the neighborhood and even asked to meet my mother’s Frenchies. To our surprise, her dogs, who are usually picky about people, absolutely adored him. Maybe it was the way he crouched down to their level with the biggest smile, radiating pure joy.
Chris didn’t just offer help. He showed up. He spent hours out in that damp cold, sawing and splitting wood alongside my husband. He even brought his wife Jackie to lend a hand. That first day, they worked for hours, loading several truckloads of wood while keeping my mom and Adam entertained with their playful banter. At one point, Chris split his pants and made a big show of it, leaving everyone laughing while Jackie rolled her eyes and pretended to be disgusted.
Since that day, I’ve had the pleasure of watching Adam and Chris work together in the yard several more times. They take turns sawing and splitting, lifting and hauling, talking and laughing. They share stories about their lives and keep each other company. A genuine friendship has formed right in front of us.
Adam doesn’t have many local friends and no family nearby. Chris, recently retired, has more time on his hands than he would like. Somehow, they found each other at just the right moment. They both love being outdoors, staying active, and being useful. My mom, the owner of the fallen tree, is certainly lucky to have them.
This past year has been brutal for my mom. She has endured more loss and heartache than anyone should ever have to face. The tree coming down was just one more thing on top of everything else. And yet, that very disaster is what brought Chris and Jackie into our lives. Their kindness, laughter, and willingness to show up turned something heavy into something lighter.
Chris will probably never fully realize the impact he had on my husband and my mom. To him, it was a simple offer to help. But to us, it was so much more. It was proof that even small acts of kindness can ripple out and change lives in ways we may never see.
We can’t fix everything wrong in the world by being kind, but we can change the world for the people around us. And who knows what those people might go on to do after experiencing the power of kindness.
In the end, I don’t think it was ever really about the wood. I think the wood was just the excuse that brought good people together.