By: Paula Kavolius
Most of us want to be known as a person who cares deeply for others. We want to be remembered when we are gone, at least by our families and friends, and we strive to do the right thing each and every day.
Every once in a while on our life’s journey, something happens that makes us realize the ripple effect of even the smallest act of kindness. I was fortunate to have one of these moments recently, and it made me reflect on the magnitude of HOPe’s mission in the community at large.
This past weekend, I attended a scripture retreat where I met a woman named Jean. We sat next to each other at dinner and she described how her current mission is to help prisoners choose a spiritual path in the next chapter of their lives. I shared with her that I have always had an interest in volunteering for a prison ministry and she smiled and said, “give me a call”.
The next day, I joined the group and took an open seat next to Jean. She looked to her left and said, “I have been looking for you everywhere”. I was taken aback and said, “why”? She asked me if I was the founder of the House of Possibilities and I answered, “yes”.
She then shared with me an enlightening story of how HOPe had touched the lives of prisoners in the community the prior week.
She knew a prison ministry volunteer named Margaret, who had visited HOPe and was deeply moved by what we do. This woman adopted five kids with special needs and was facing challenges with one, in particular. She returned to the prison to share the story of HOPe with the inmates, and in her talk inspired them to look at life outside the prison as a world of possibilities. She used HOPe as an analogy to help them see the prison as their own house of possibilities, and to show that it is up to them to create a new and positive life for themselves.
As the woman told me this story, tears came to my eyes. To think that a coincidental conversation with a woman could result in an extension of HOPe’s mission to a population that needs it most is truly incredible. It is times like these that I realize the ripple effect of HOPe’s everyday miracles, and how the littlest acts of kindness gain momentum and impact others in meaningful ways.
Mother Theresa says it best, that:
“None of us can do anything great on our own, but we can all do a small thing with great love.” – Mother Theresa
In light of these moments, we must all remember that even the smallest act or the most random coincidence can change a life forever.