My daughter, Cassie, is 31, and lives alone in Raleigh.  She’s working seven days a week between two jobs, and she is physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.  A couple of days ago, she was having one of those ‘one thing after another’ kind of days, and in the midst of it, she remembered she had points to get a free pizza, so she tried to order it online to arrive when she got home.  Simple, right?  Well, she couldn’t get the order to go through for anything, and she was in tears. It was a pizza for crying out loud. Finally, in tears and frustration, she called the pizza place, and that’s where Aster comes in.

Aster answered the phone and Cassie said her voice was just the sweetest thing.  As soon as they connected, Cassie apologized for being emotional and frustrated, told Aster she’d had a really bad day and just needed help.  Then, as is the norm for my talkative and very social child (not sure where she gets it:), she and Aster continued their conversation, obviously for some time. And Aster listened.  Clearly, Aster listened. She placed Cassie’s order and they said goodbye.

Cassie’s pizza eventually arrived and when Cassie opened the box, this is what she found.

Y’all, this precious stranger touched my child.  Cassie sent me this picture and called me crying, saying, “Mama, can you believe she did that?  There really are good people left in this world….”.  We cried together, and throughout the weekend, she texted me a few more times saying she was still moved by Aster’s note.  I am too.  

What did Aster’s co-workers think?  
Is she using this as a ministry – if so, you go Aster!
Or was it really just a random spur of the moment act of goodness?  

Does it really matter?

Thank you, Aster for being a light in the dark, and for setting the example for all of us.  I’d been praying for God to show me each day this year a way to spread joy.  I think He used Aster to remind me that it doesn’t have to cost a thing, or be elaborate, or even well thought out.  It just takes a moment. 

Let’s be an Aster.  And what goes around, comes around; it will make its way back to us.  If it can happen in the lid of a pizza box, it can happen anywhere, right?

Love,
Tracey