A Perfect Stranger

Perfect strangers are sometimes the perfect people.  Our family is learning a lot about that this week.

On Wednesday afternoon, I received a phone call from my dad sharing that my step-sister's house had been ravaged by fire that morning.  He was pretty sure that there wouldn't be anything to save from the three boys' bedrooms.  He was indeed right.

  They are a family of five who lost a huge chunk of their home, 90% of the loss being the bedrooms that were upstairs.  All three boys, and my step-sister and brother in law had the clothes they were wearing that day and a lucky load of whites they later found in the dryer.  Much of the house contents were lost to smoke and water damage. 

Asking for help doesn't come easy to many people.  I'm one of them.  So are they.  Unfortunately, there hasn't been much choice but to ask, and rely on their faith to pull them through this difficult time.  This week has been about AMAZING people reaching into their pocket books, just a week before Christmas, and giving to their family.  This includes perfect strangers.  AMAZING people, who are strangers.  They don't know Teri and Justin, and Teri and Justin don't know them.

Kim, Keely and I have all sent emails to the amazing people we work with, and the love and support that our family has been shown has been overwhelming.  These people don't know the kids, and yet they are bringing us bags upon bags of clothes and items that Teri and Justin can start to rebuild their home with.

Today, Keely and I were out shopping.  As we were leaving Old Navy, feeling pretty proud of the savings we got and the deals we made, we had an extra pep to our step.  There was another lady behind us that shared some of her story.  It started as she said,

     "That store is really amazing.  I am out shopping today for a family that lost everything in a house fire earlier this week.  When the worker found out what I was doing, she gave me an extra 30% off.  I was so pleased with their customer service and so very thankful.  I don't even know the people who had the fire, they are friends of a friend, but I just had to do something.  I had some extra this holiday season, so I came here to get a few things for them."

This peaked Keely and I's interest, so much so, that I had to ask. I asked her if she knew the names of the people who had the fire, and she said they were her friends' friends.  She finally came up with the name. 

The very same name as my step-sister and brother in law.

A perfect stranger, who felt called to help.  A stranger who didn't know Teri, Justin or the boys.  A stranger who went to Old Navy and purchased clothes for someone they had never met.

Keely and I got in the van, a bit shaken, with goosebumps on our bodies.  What are the chances????

I hope that perfect stranger knows she's a perfect person.