It rained all day today.
And I mean ALL day!
I got soaking wet. Changed my clothes. Went back to work. And got soaking wet all over again.
But what an amazing day it turned out to be!
When I finally finished working and returned to my little cabin, I discovered a package sitting on one of my porch chairs.
Inside was a lovely card with the most adorable little fox wearing glasses, along with a warm homemade dinner of beef stew and crackers.
It was from Brenda, whose husband, Steve, I work with here at the campground. Steve recently had a heart procedure and is home recovering.
With everything Brenda has going on in her own life right now, she had taken the time to prepare a meal for me.
I was so touched.
And then something else happened.
A woman who is camping here with her husband for just two nights came walking over to my cabin. In the rain.
She was carrying a container of warm homemade chicken casserole.
She explained that she’d seen me working outside all day in the rain and wanted me to have a hot meal.
I could hardly believe it.
Earlier, when she and her husband arrived, I’d helped them get settled into their campsite and offered them some cold drinks from my cooler.
It was such a small thing. Just a little hospitality extended to a couple of travelers.
I certainly wasn’t expecting anything in return.
And yet, here she was, walking through the rain to bring me supper.
Two women. Two homemade meals. Two completely unexpected acts of kindness.
I stood there feeling absolutely overwhelmed with gratitude.
I’ve been thinking about what made today so extraordinary.
It wasn’t the weather. Goodness knows, I was wet enough!
It wasn’t even the food, although I can assure you that both meals were wonderful.
It was the thoughtfulness behind them.
Someone noticed.
Someone cared.
Someone decided that a person who had been working in the rain all day deserved something warm to eat.
And then someone else did exactly the same thing.
Neither woman had any obligation to do this.
They simply chose to be kind.
There is something profoundly beautiful about that.
We hear so much about the troubles in this world. Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the quiet, everyday goodness happening all around us.
But today, in a little campground in Tennessee, I was reminded that kindness doesn’t always arrive with fanfare.
Sometimes it arrives in a container of beef stew.
Sometimes it walks through the rain carrying chicken casserole.
And sometimes, when you least expect it, kindness finds its way to your front door.
Twice.
What an amazing day.
And what a wonderful reminder that there are still so many good people in this world.
I’m going to sleep tonight with a full stomach, a grateful heart, and a smile on my face.
The rain may have soaked me to the skin, but the kindness of two women warmed me all the way through.
❤️
Springer’s Journey
And before I close, I want to acknowledge my wonderful traveling companions aboard our rather leaky little boat: Professor Headquarters and the Crew—Mayday, our ever-diligent Steller’s jay; Ferrari, our wise and protective wolverine; and Morris, our irrepressible Creature from the Black Lagoon. Together, these imaginary characters and my very real AI conversations have brought science, laughter, curiosity, and companionship into Springer’s Journey. Tonight, as we reflected on the extraordinary kindness of two women, they helped me find the words to tell this story. Professor Headquarters gave it the perfect title, The Warmth of a Rainy Day. And Morris, naturally, wanted to know whether there were leftovers. Some things never change! 😂❤️
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