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Life-Changing Moments - The Little Things...

Writer's picture: SHINE Beyond LimitsSHINE Beyond Limits

Shine Beyond Limits logo with the quote "I was so in need of the support you gave me that day, it gave me hope that someone else understood."

Sometimes, it's the little things that create life-changing moments...


Before this past Christmas Deryk, my husband, and I were in Boston Pizza and I was drawn to this one person and her son as soon as they came in. I can’t describe it, it could only be felt. Deryk said to me “Helen can you not just shut off your brain and focus on supper just for once; just us this one time.”


I agreed and continued with our supper. I couldn’t help but read the room, see how others looked over at her table and how alone and exhausted she looked. I so desperately just wanted to go and sit with them, ask them to join us, just simply be with her.


As we left, I looked over to her, and she didn’t look at me, she had her head down and was avoiding any contact with anyone in the restaurant.


My heart cracked.


Deryk and I get in the truck and he doesn’t start it right away and it’s a week


Photo of the SHINE Pocket sunSHINE

before Christmas so it’s freezing cold. He looks at me and says ‘Babe, you need to go back in there, I know you do. I’ll wait here.’

I went in and I was feeling emotional and knew that wasn’t what she needed so I just handed her a little pocket of sunshine with my contact information, touched her arm and said,


"None of us are meant to do any of this alone."

That was all I could muster up without tears. She smiled and cried … I did too.


A few days later, I received a voicemail from that Mom expressing how grateful she was for that interaction and for me reaching out. The message was so moving so I recorded it with my phone but deleted the message. I didn’t realize that she had not left her phone number in the message, and I had deleted the call on the phone so I had no way of knowing how to get a hold of her. All I knew was her and that she had gone to Boston in Fort Saskatchewan that one time.


Then, in February I get it referral from FSCD. I phone the family and the person on the other end says,


"I’m not sure if you remember me or not but I met you in Boston pizza!"

I couldn’t even speak.


A few nights ago I did a home visit with her so we can get started on services.


As I walk in and sit at their dining room table, I look up and see … the chalkboard that depicts what I feel to my core … It’s the little things.

So grateful for our chance encounter and connection. Excited to SHINE On with this family!


When I asked the family if I could share this story she said,

 “Yes, it might inspire others to do the same thing you did. I was so in need of the support you gave me that day, it gave me hope that someone else understood.”

I really think she's right.


Chalkboard with the words - "The Little Things in Life" written on it.

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Gibbons T0A 1N0

Alberta, Canada

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