Eyes that see the good in things- Nov. 19, 2018

My heart is full as we approach Thanksgiving, and this year thankfulness comes easily. As I was thinking about something to share for Thanksgiving this year, I came across a heartwarming story written by Charles Rogers. The story is a beautiful story that reminds us that, while we are sharing our holiday with family and friends, there are many people who are spending their holiday lonely and hurting. People who won’t necessarily have a Happy Thanksgiving and may even feel lonelier because of the holiday.

As I read Rogers’ Thanksgiving story, it took me back in time to the year my father-in-law died, and my mother-in-law was so lonely. She was cooking in their small-town hospital’s kitchen at the time and she chose to work the holiday, rather than feel the loneliness of being at home. Knowing how hard it would be for her to come home to an empty house, several of her kids went home to share Thanksgiving dessert with her.

Roger’s story demonstrates how we all go through times in our lives when we are hurting, we’re missing someone, or we may just be lonely. The holidays are difficult at those times, but they’re also be an opportunity for sharing and helping others… and sometimes, one act of kindness can have an impact on someone’s life that could last a long time!

The story by Charles Rogers begins by introducing 85-year-old Ned, a man who had spent his life celebrating Thanksgiving Day just like the rest of us, eating turkey at home, with his family. Thanksgiving was a happy time for him at that time.

Things changed for Ned when Rosie, his wife of 60 years, passed away. Ned settled into depression and the loneliness was almost unbearable. He knew that things would never be the same, but he also knew that his faith would see him through. “The Lord has a way of helping people like me,” he said. “I know it now because of what He did for me.”

In his early days, Ned had been a business owner and was used to sharing stories with his customers. He did a lot of listening, but he also did his share of storytelling. In his later years, he loved to tell his Thanksgiving story.

The story began when Rosie got sick when she was in her 70s and Ned was almost 80. He said that getting around wasn’t easy for either of them, so they started getting Meals on Wheels.

One day, when Rosie opened the styrofoam containers for lunch, one contained a note from the person who had packed it. The note was written by a little girl named Erin and it read, ‘Whoever receives this box…please write to me. I am six years old and I would like to hear from you and I will write back.’

According to Ned, Rosie read the note over and over and finally said that she was going to write to Erin. Sitting down to write, she sent a thank you note and told Erin who she and Ned were, where they were from and added a few other details. She didn’t really think she would get a reply, but she asked the six-year-old to write back.

When Erin’s reply came the next week in a very nice letter, Ned said Rosie was as pleased as she could be, and she sat down that night and responded to Erin’s letter. She told Erin about Ned, about their son and about some of the things that they were doing.

And then, Ned said Rosie waited to see if Erin would respond. Erin did respond. She sent Rosie a picture of herself and they exchanged more letters. Eventually, as their friendship grew, they started talking on the phone, but they never got the chance to meet face to face. Ned was no longer able to make the drive and Erin’s parents couldn’t make it either. So, they promised they would get together soon.

Unfortunately, Rosie passed away and Ned was devastated. After a little time had gone by, he called Erin’s parents, telling them that he didn’t know how to tell Erin that her pen pal was gone. Erin’s parents told Ned that they would tell Erin about Rosie. “And what do you think if I continue the correspondence from now on?” he asked.

With a blessing from Erin’s parents, Ned and Erin wrote to each other all summer before Erin’s father invited Ned to dinner. It was there that he finally met Erin, who was now 12 years old. They talked for hours and a had a beautiful day together. As time went by, Ned spent time with the family, meeting occasionally for lunch or dinner at a restaurant near his home.

Erin’s family sent Ned a special invitation to Erin’s bat mitzvah. Because he didn’t drive anymore, he turned the invitation down. “I’ll pick you up, take you to our house and take you home,” Erin’s father told him. “How would that be?”

“Just about perfect,” came Ned’s reply.

But Ned says the story doesn’t end there and he hopes it is a story that continues for a long, long time. Erin’s family invited him to come and share Thanksgiving dinner with their whole family, and once again Thanksgiving has become something that he is looking forward to. Again, Erin’s father will pick him up and bring him back home again.

Ned said that he was very lonely at his last Thanksgiving. This year, he said that he’ll break bread with Erin and his “other” family, and it’ll almost be like it used to be.

And he said he’ll dedicate the day to Rosie.

We would love to share local stories about the good things your eyes are seeing.

Stop in to share your stories with us, give us a call at 947-2417 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Or send a letter to Eyes That See the Good in Things, c/o Allison Lindgren, The Transcript, 6 8th St N., New Rockford, ND 58356.