So, my youngest daughter is always going above and beyond to make everyone happy. Her fiance, her children, me, her siblings, the co workers(she always takes in a card or gift whenever someone needs it, or to acknowledge their goings ons), other family members and... well, you get the gist of that part. She never seems to overly express disappointments. Holding it all in, almost as to not be a burden to anyone. Yeah, she gets frustrated, and she yells a bit, but for the most part, she keeps it moving.
Well she's not a burden at all. She's well loved and I felt she needed to know that, through a gentle expression of my love and appreciation.
I got her 1 dozen Roses, removed the petals from a few, to spread around her porch, leading past her truck and to my car, that was perfectly hidden behind it. I wanted the force of the opened door to vacuum the petals in and spark the initial curiosity. So I sat for nearly an hour waiting for her to walk out and toward my car, so I could hand her the bouquet and a bag filled with her favorite snacks, to enjoy on work breaks, lunches and whenever she just wanted a taste.
My intent was to buy her actual lunch from Subway, where I listened and documented one day, as I heard her place an order. I wanted to get it just right. I even went as far as slightly asking throughout the week, "Hey, do you have an allergy to Roses?"(she has an extensive list of newly found allergies, to foods, grass(that she often has to mow before work or on an off day, because other able bodied occupants had neglected to do so), trees, her dog, etc. "What time frame do you leave for work?" "Is that loose stray dog still hanging out in your yard"? (The loose dog would've been a deal breaker, forcing me to abort the house mission and do it all differently, and possibly involving her employer).
Longer story short, once she opened the door, followed the petals and realized what was going on, she was ecstatic! Shocked that I'd driven more than 20 miles across town without telling her I was coming. Especially being able to keep the secret, which I can never do. We hugged repeatedly and gave each other kisses to the cheeks. I told her that she is loved and appreciated. That no matter what it seems, this is just a fraction of what I needed her to know. God and her family genuinely loves her. Her good deeds do not go unnoticed and are highly appreciated.
No matter how small you may think your kind gesture or acknowledgement is, do it anyway. Tell them, show them anyway. Remember it's the little things that make the big impressions. That one person that seems to be the strongest, that may appear to have it all worked out, still needs to know that everything will be okay. That they are not alone, that you are seeing, listening and you care.