One random act of kindness is sometimes all you need

With an introduction by Jennie Kim, LRG Program Associate

In this day in age, when charitable giving is a rare thing to see during this economic strain, Janeen Ryan candidly documents her experience in which lives were transformed by a single simple yet meaningful act of kindness. Her story is one of few that epitomizes the holiday season’s gift of giving and proves that when good things happen to good people, goodness is kept alive and is inevitably reciprocated and shared.

“I did have a really wonderful, heartfelt thing happen a few days ago and I would like to share it with y'all as it is proof once again that living angels walk among us.

Today has been a heavenly day but it didn't start out that way.

We began with a late start to my doctor’s appointment - Larry has an odd sense of time and jumping in the shower ten minutes before we have to leave seems like a good idea to him. NOT! I made up some time on the road so all was well when we arrived.

“After, we decided to go to get our licenses and oh, wait, I have to tell you that last night while cruising the internet I saw a KIA dealership advertising a car salesman position. It was right up my alley so I figured, why not? I talked to God and told him if this was the right thing then please have 'em call me in the morning. Well, while driving to the DMV I got a call. It was Jim from KIA, we talked and he was impressed with my background so he wanted to see me the next day after I got my Massachusetts license.

“So we got to the DMV, they wanted proof of residency, and we gave them the electric notice we were sent (not a bill). The girl told us it HAD to be a bill but I didn’t have a bill yet. So they went to go get the manager but there was no manager to be found. We waited and waited and finally, the manager showed up! She looked at our documents: one was from the post office, but only our last name was on it, but she approved and signed it. Yippee!

“As an afterthought I asked her how much the license was and she said $100.00 each. Oh no, oh no – here came the tears. I knew we didn't have that. I looked at her and thanked her for her time but we didn't have $200.00! Maybe payday?

“I was really embarrassed. I was crying and babbling and backing away - I just wanted to get out of there, I wanted a hole to crawl into. I was still gathering my stuff and backing away from the counter apologizing and she said, "'Wait! Stay right there, just wait.' I was standing there feeling like a fool, thinking we should have asked about this right off the bat. A hundred dollars for a license? Oh my goodness, right? Wow.

“I felt something tugging me on my left side and I heard a voice say 'Oh my, what's that in your pocket?' I looked over and she was walking away from me. I reached down and put my hand in my pocket and pull out two fifty dollar bills. Can you believe that? This DMV angel gave me $100.00 so I could get my license and get a job. I was speechless. I couldn’t even talk - nothing. Larry was still filling out his paperwork, and I was standing there shocked, staring at the money.

“Who knew God put angels at the DMV? I'll tell you what. I'm going to get that job and with my first paycheck and I'm going to send her a HUGE bunch of flowers or a cookie bouquet or something, oh, and one of my homemade necklaces, plus of course the $100 back. Even better was the effect this had on Larry when I told him about everything. He had lost faith in humanity to an extent and this really helped to restore it."