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She took both of my hands and squeezed them firmly; looked into my eyes for a prolonged time; and placed one of her hands over my heart.
This morning when I went out for a walk, I was hopeful of crossing paths with some of my neighbors. I live alone and am in a difficult period in my life right now. Seeing someone to whom I could wish good morning or with whom I might chat for a few minutes would feel so good to me.
Almost immediately, I saw one of my neighbors with whom I visit at times. Neither of us stopped to talk (her dog was pulling her along), but we exchanged pleasantries; and I felt uplifted by the encounter.
Not much farther along on my walk, I saw another neighbor. We are always friendly toward each other, and I look forward to seeing her and her little yorkie. We exchanged greetings and continued our separate ways, me with concern about the summer heat beginning to beat down on us this July morning in Texas.
My third and final encounter is still causing me to reflect and to do so with gratitude even as I sit at the computer at nine o’clock at night. As I continued walking, I saw a new neighbor: a slender, silver-haired woman dressed in the clothing of her native country of India. She is a recent immigrant with whom I have had only rare interactions from a distance. At those times, I have said “Hello,” and she has responded with a nod and a wave.
This morning we were walking in opposite directions and across the drive from each other. I said “Hello” to her; and she responded with a wave and “Hi.” Thereafter, we each continued on our walk in different directions until we encountered each other again.
This second time, I was walking on the same side of the drive, which caused us to meet face-to-face. When we got close to each other, I had the distinct impression that she wanted to hug me. I was taken aback and simply stood still. She took both of my hands and squeezed them firmly; looked into my eyes for a prolonged time; and placed one of her hands over my heart. Then, she said “Hap” like she was telling me to be happy. I cannot verify that was the case, because she was unable to speak English. When she said, “Hap,” I did not know what to do but said, “Yes, I am working on it.” She responded in her native language, which I could not understand. We stood there for a couple or three minutes looking into each other’s eyes and holding hands, then we released each other’s hands and resumed walking separately in opposite directions.
I felt something spiritual was at work.
I was still quizzing myself over what had happened a short time later when I saw her coming toward me. When we met, she grabbed my left hand as if not wanting to let me go and made it clear to me that she wanted to walk with me. She and I held onto each other for the rest of the morning walk. As we walked, she was speaking something that sounded like a prayer. Perhaps that was just my wishful thinking, but I felt something spiritual was at work. When we parted, once again, she placed a hand over my heart and nodded at me. All I could do was say, “Thank you” and wish her a nice day.
This morning’s walk and this woman’s kindness had to be guided by Spirit. My loneliness was lessened, and I suspect that the experience was heaven’s way of responding to my recent feeling that I needed to be mothered and my requests that I be given signs that the universe is supporting me. This woman doesn’t know me, and we were unable to communicate verbally due to the language barrier. Yet, she changed my day with her love and kindness.
EPILOGUE (But not the end!)
After our first walk, I encountered my Indian neighbor again and some of her family members. She greeted me with smiles, a hug, and a kiss on the cheek. Her great granddaughter reported to me that her great grandmother told her she had a friend and that she had wanted to talk to her (me) during our walk (I wanted that also!). If she wants to learn English, perhaps I can help. She asked what time I walk, so I believe we will meet again and have more adventures together.
We invite you to share a story about yourself or another person, reflecting on the question: “How has gratefulness shifted a moment, an experience, or a lifetime?”
I love this story. I cried as my heart joined with you and your new Indian friend. I felt God’s extension of love between you both extend to me and anyone else who may read this beautiful story.. Thank you for sharing Dena.
Cynthia Valverde
happy i read it…..i coulnt hold back my tears as i remembered a previous experience very similar to that of dena….i wish everyone encounter and cherish such unique expressions of love and care in their lives…
What a touching story when you can go beyond culture, country and language to reach out and connect deeply with another person.
🙂
I am going to deep listen and try hard not to give advice. On Being has several good articles and I espically liked this one. 8/21/2017
Dear Ms SmithI took the liberty of using the title of your “Blog” to respond to to-day’s Gratitude, “Daily question”. Here is their question and my reply.
Question: How do I want to be remembered?
The best, the truest, “re-membering” will occur when my loved ones and I meet up again in future earthly incarnations ( not RE-incarnations). We will re-assemble are carry on with our mutual Soul experiences which are, in fact, character development experiences. As it is said, “Sow a Character, reap a Destiny”.
Therein is the proof positive that each of us are but ‘rays of our Spirit-Soul’ gathering our earthly-human experiences and, yes indeed, “Walking each other Home”!
Further note here, you mentioned that you are pursuing “learnin… that you are pursuing “learning to read Akashic Records”
As an Essene Christian I immediately received your example of a daily neighbourhood walk as a flowing metaphor for the journey we , each Spirit-Soul-Being, take on our journey(s) into the lower-three dimensional- earthy existences to gain experiences. ( The Prodigal son parable when understood correctly …not the one most Christian religions interpret it as ….some sort of punishment! ) it is here on our earthly “walks” that we gather our experiences, meet and connect with other ‘like mined’ Souls ( more often then not from the same Monad ) and eventually return home, divesting our temporary characters of all but the loving – truth resonating -experience, like we take off an outer layer of clothing we don’t need when back in our house. Those loving-truthful experiences are then dutifully recorded on our Permanent Personality/ Permanent Atom ( our individual Akashic Record so to speak ) and off we go down into another ‘earthly’ experiences, meeting past and new Soul-beings, gaining experiences and “walking each other Home” again.
Thank You for this metaphor which reminds us who and what being a Human Being is truly about. Be Well Be PresentEdS
This moved me to tears. So beautiful. Spirit definitely played a part in this 🙂