# I haven't led a charmed life
Some people are born with a silver spoon and everything they need. I wasn't so lucky. When I was young there were times without food on the table. I moved from school to school because my mom had to find whatever home she could that she could afford on her small income. There were times I lived with virtual strangers as my mom had to go to a new town on her own. Times when we lived out of a hotel. I also scavenged out of garbage cans for recyclables to buy little treats for myself as well. By any measure ... I did not have a wealthy childhood. Having said that, I can also say I was richer than many. While we had no money, I absolutely knew my mom loved me and cared for me the absolute best she could. I had the church stand behind us and got to experience fun, games and outings with the children and leaders in the church. Add in caring teachers and I can say that while I may have been poor, I was still loved and accepted and that is something far more valuable than money.

# Acts of Kindness
Through my life I have been blessed to have random acts of kindness. Sometimes it was friends and family. Sometimes it was the church. Sometimes it was unknown strangers. My earliest recollection of a random act of kindness? I was walking through the streets scavenging through garbage cans for pop bottles or cans. It wasn't a great neighborhood and there were many people drunk and passed out in a small park I was going through. One man asked what I was looking for and I said "Two more cans so I can go buy an orange soda". He smiled and gave me a dime ($0.10). I said thank you and headed off to get my prize of an orange soda. Didn't know the man, never saw him again, but his tiny donation gave me a foundational memory for life. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/terganftp/23vsEDmpuweMq2ehnPMZucJHsXNgRrAGymwpjA8gpuccn8ThGVSGUG4o2bm7mG3EfX3D1.png) **Even small acts of kindness can make a difference** Fast forward a couple of years and my family was struggling through the Christmas season. Food and presents were looking kind of unlikely. One day my mom went to get the mail and there was an anonymous envelope in there with $100 ($500 in today's dollars). It made all the difference for that Christmas season and to this day we have no idea who left it. **Sometimes gifts come when there is no reason for it** One year the church came by with a number of gifts for me for my birthday. That was totally unexpected but really made my day. Even had a new bicycle for me...which was old big and clunky...but I still loved it anyways. Of course I never knew *who* in the church arranged for it but again it made a memory that lives with me to this day.

# Even as I got older
Fast forward to my University graduation and I was even more broke than when I was a child. I was in debt for student loans. My father went brankrupt and my mom's health was poor. My sister was struggling with two young children....and I had no place to live. **Stressful** But a friend came through and gave me a bed to sleep on for a month until I got my degree, license and job. The day for me to move to a new city came and I flew to a small town where I knew absolutely no-one. My employer was supposed to pay for my apartment and my manager gave me a key to my new place just before he went on vacation. I went to the apartment but the key didn't work. **I'm homeless again, but in a town where I knew absolutely no one**. Flat broke. No friends. No family. No church or contacts. Just two suitcases and a job I'm supposed to start on Monday (it was Friday night).....and my manager had just left on vacation so no help there. Now I won't say that I haven't had my fair share of bad things happen. I could absolutely list off many times when things really didn't go well. However, it makes me far happier to think of the kindness I've experienced and be grateful for God's hand in getting me to where I am today. So while Hive Learners prompt is "I met an Angel" I prefer to think that God put the right people in my life at the right time to provide just what I needed....although not always what I wanted :) For that I'm always thankful. And as always, thanks for reading down this far and as always I love comment and feedback.

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