Letter to the Editor

Amidst daily news of crime and corruption there also exist humbling acts of human goodness that too often go unreported. These invisible threads of hope interwoven throughout our community offer some of the best unexpected gifts we’ll ever receive.

A few months ago my husband dropped his wallet in a restaurant parking lot and didn’t realize he’d lost it until hours later. We drove back to the establishment to search for it but it was gone. The manager said he’d call us if anyone reported finding it, but we knew that was unlikely by then. When we got back home we began scrambling to protect ourselves, notifying our credit monitoring service and law enforcement, and cancelling everything he’d been carrying. We didn’t care about losing the cash or credit card charges. I just prayed that we’d be kept safe even though the police assured us that people who steal wallets rarely want anything to do with the owners. No one turned the wallet in and we tried to get on with our changed life.

On a rainy day a few days later our doorbell rang. I peered through the peephole and only saw part of a large man outside our door. He was bending down like he was trying to hide from full view. Not sure what was going on, we called the Sheriff’s office, told them about the stolen wallet and the stranger outside our front door. They advised us to stay inside and wait for an officer to come check things out. The large man disappeared then we waited wondering what might happen next.

Shortly afterwards, a deputy appeared at our front door informing us that he hadn’t seen anyone. He looked down and picked up a small object from our doormat–my husband’s wallet. I was stunned. Everything was inside including the cash. The deputy told us that rarely happens–that we’d been very lucky. I didn’t feel lucky, just grateful to be shown the existence of such a golden soul.

Later we found a small handwritten note from the stranger inside our mailbox telling us that he’d found our wallet at the restaurant and had left it at our front door. It was unsigned. He’d not even wanted any recognition for his good deed.

I no longer believe in Santa Claus. But, I do believe in the power of the simplest acts of kindness toward others as the ultimate gift that keeps on giving.

Julie Matherly

Tallahassee, Florida

Originally published in the Tallahassee Democrat

Photo credit © Isabel Poulin | Dreamstime.com

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