guest post - Heather - just a bottle of water

I can't wait for you to meet Heather.
I found her blog and can't stop reading it.
You won't be able to either...
She is full of life, love, compassion, grace and spunk!
Her story is heart warming and inspiring!
Here's Heather...
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Hello Pure Joy readers!

I'm so honored to be participating in Jamie's RAK week.

I know first hand how important random acts of kindness are,

and the difference they can make in a person's life.
I lost my son Samuel in 2007 when he was just 6 weeks old and in the days
that followed I felt every ounce of kindness that was directed towards me.

Since that time I've felt eager for kindness to be first in my heart,

instead of my mind. I want it to be a way of life.

I want kindness to be the way God shines his light through me.

I'm working hard to make that happen and in the process

I'm finding out a lot about myself and my relationship with God.

One of the things I've realized is that I don't always obey.

I'm working hard to change that.

The other day while I was at Starbucks waiting for my

2 pump vanilla non-fat latte I noticed a man out of the corner of my eye.

He was quietly walking into the restroom when I realized

from his appearance that he was homeless.

I immediately heard Him speak to me.

"Don't look away. See him. Help him. Give him water."

Not surprisingly, I hesitated.

I quickly thought of 20 reasons not to.

And then I obeyed.

I walked to the counter and explained that I'd like to buy

the man that had just walked into the restroom a bottle of water.

"Wait. I'm sorry, did you mean that man?"

"Yep. The man that just walked into the bathroom."

After she got over her initial shock, her face seemed to

soften and she asked if I'd like to give it to him

or if I would like them to. I opted to let them.

Not because I didn't want to see him,

but because I realized this was an opportunity to let the kindness grow.

In that moment I realized that the more hands involved,

the more chances there were of kindness being spread to others.

I left Starbucks that day feeling like a

little kid that had made their parents proud.

Not because I bought a bottle of water for man,

but because I obeyed, and it felt so very good.

+Heather