Beth Heckman was chilled while distributing food at the Father Jack Jones Food Pantry on the Holy Name campus. Temperatures had dipped and volunteers stood outside to serve clients. A young woman who regularly visits the pantry with her brother, who relocated to Louisville from Africa with their family, bounded up to the tables flashing her signature brilliant smile in spite of the thin flip flops she was wearing. Beth marveled at her resiliency, and smiled, too, as she watched the siblings stroll away, thrilled and grateful.

 

But later, Beth was troubled. Why had she not offered the young woman her fur-lined boots? That night she prayed for another chance, but the next week the young woman did not return. The following week, however, there she was, still smiling and still wearing flip flops. “What size show do you wear,” Beth asked. Turns out, they wore the same size. “Would you like these boots?” Beth asked excitedly. “Oh, yes!”

If it’s possible, that young woman’s smile was even brighter when she left that day.