A random act of kindness can sometimes happen when least expected and most needed. It is not always the big things in life that can restore faith in the world, but often the small acts that affect us most.

During the first part of my husband’s deployment to Iraq I could have been the poster child for going postal. My secret longing had been to steal all the yellow “support our troop” magnets off of vehicles and then find someone with a “we support Bush” bumper sticker and plaster their car with them. During his deployment I had often experienced indifference and apathy from many people. While the vocal support for our troops is often heard, there is very little in the way of genuine help or support for the families of these soldiers. It was a very long and difficult time for my family and myself, but a small random act during my husband’s leave changed the way I felt, and it gave me hope for the rest of the time he was away.

My husband’s leave was coming to an end; he was scheduled to return to duty on July 4th. We decided the night before he left to take all our children out to dinner, to spend this last evening with him together before he had to leave us once more. We took everyone to a local buffet, when you have seven children in tow, buffet is always a good idea. As we went through the line I noticed a sign that said this was their 4th of July buffet, when I reached the front of the line I jokingly asked if they had a military discount. The cashier responded, yes they did, my husband handed her his military ID card and left with the children to find us a table, and I stayed behind to pay the bill. While writing out the check I chatted with the cashier, telling her that my husband was going back to Iraq in the morning and we had decided to take our children out for one last meal together as a family. I thought no more of it as I handed her the check and returned to my family.

Shortly after returning to my family our waitress stopped at the head of the table holding a piece of paper in her hand and announced that it was our lucky day. While talking to the cashier earlier, someone had overheard our conversation and after I left had come forward and asked to pay our bill. The piece of paper in her hand was the check I had written and she handed it back to me with a smile. My husband and I were both stunned and we asked who had done this so we could thank them for their generosity. The waitress explained that the person who paid it had requested it be done anonymously; it was a thank you, to my husband and his entire family and for the service we have all given to our country, there was no need for us to thank this person in return.

It was the kindest act of generosity that anyone has ever done for us, and it touched the both of us deeply. Never before had anyone unknown to us ever done anything so compassionate. They asked for nothing in return, not even our thanks. By that simple act of kindness they had restored my faith in the world, and I no longer felt so alone. It’s the small, unexpected acts of kindness that touches most deeply, and it brings tears to my eyes even now when I think about it, that someone cared, it meant more than any bumper sticker ever could.

Our family would like to say thank you to whoever did this for us, but we can’t, but I can let others know of their kindness. For every random act of kindness a single person can make a huge difference in someone else’s life, bringing just a little more joy into what can at times seem like a cold and lonely place. Because of this person’s actions I was able to endure my husband’s deployment just a little better than before, I no longer felt as alone or isolated because I knew somewhere out there, there was someone who had taken the time to say, we know and we care.