A Tiny Little Thing

Something I was so excited to do in the new house was to set up a refreshment station for our mail carrier and delivery folks. I would put out a cooler of cold drinks and snacks on hot days in Nashville for our garbage and recycling folks and the UPS and Fed Ex drivers, but it was hit or miss since I had to set it on the side road next to our house. Here in Rochester with the adored front porch, we can have snacks and drinks sitting by the front door year round.

Buds and I get a little thrill every time we notice someone has taken something and I am amazed at the number of delivery folks who make the effort to tell us how much they appreciate it. Our regular mail carrier is Brian, and he’s used to it, but the substitute carriers have made sure to express their gratitude, too.

Today a pair of young men picked up a return item going back to Lowe’s and when one of them stepped on the porch to have us sign paperwork he said, “Oh, you have snacks!”

“Yes, please take something,” we said.

“How much are you selling them for?” he asked.

“Oh, no. You can just take whatever you want.”

He was so thankful and they both took a bunch of snacks and drinks.

I was talking with Yessa about it later and we discussed how we don’t know if that was their first food of the day or if it would end up being their lunch. You don’t know what other people are going through and that we might bring a small bit of light to their life brings me a great deal of joy.

The other thing I love about this picture are the nuggets of knowledge about our Rochester life hidden with in it.

The plant; trash-picked. The table; handmade by the friend of the brother of a woman we’ve met from a block over. The sign inviting people to take a snack with our thanks; drawn by a neighbor from a couple doors down.

We’re creating a village here, but not of close friends. A village of people who feel valued and respected and seen.