― Mother Teresa
A
couple of days ago, I was communicating via e-mail with someone I didn't know who
was helping me with travel arrangements for a business trip. I noticed that she closed her e-mail with "Smiles"
(instead of Regards or Best as many people write above their names). Wow, I thought, pretty neat. Her sign-off had the same impact as someone
sharing a smile in person. I
instinctively smiled as I read it.
I
wrote her back to say that I loved her sign-off. She thanked me for my "kind words"
and shared the following: "My
mother was a German/English farm wife who had the happiest heart in the world. She saw her small world, and all who were in
it, as beautiful. She sang as she went
about her life of 88 years, whether gardening, baking bread, making quilts from
outgrown clothing or cleaning our 15-room farm house; she lived those years with
love and it spilled over onto all who knew her. Such a legacy to leave behind as she walked
her way to Glory!"
With
her unique sign-off, this woman reflected her mother's happy heart and shared
it with others, including a business contact across cyberspace. Her "smiles" opened the door for me
to get to know her a little better and to be inspired by her and her
mother. The description of her mother
not only was beautiful and touching, but also made me think about how I live
and what I might want to leave behind. One
word, a smile across cyberspace -- a reflection of love and kindness.
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