Taking Life for Granted

My husband and I recently enjoyed our annual vacation at the Omni Hilton Head Resort. It didn’t take long to realize how we are taking life for granted.

A few inconveniences happened during our trip, which left me a bit frustrated, and truly perturbed (this had nothing to do with the hotel or service because the staff is amazing).

It was no sooner than this happened that God created an opportunity to help me put life into perspective.  I was exiting our room and saw our room attendant.  She saw me take our dog out and asked if she could clean now. I said yes please, as our room was starting to feel like a sandbox! She had already progressed to the next floor, so stated that she had to go grab her cart. I told her I really didn’t want to inconvenience her but she insisted it was not a problem.  A few minutes later I realized I forgot something and went back to the room.

Now if you know me, I’m usually in a hurry. However, this time I stopped to talk to her. I asked her name, which was Novia (quite a beautiful name!). I if she was full-time or seasonal. She shared that she was seasonal and would be going back to Jamaica in February. I asked her if she was excited to go home and if she had any family here or if they were all in Jamaica.  I saw her light up as she expressed excitement to return to her husband and 10-year-old daughter.

Everything about my mood changed at that moment. I forgot about all my superficial concerns and inconveniences immediately as I was overcome with sadness to the point of immediate tears. I was choked up and struggling to speak. I expressed how difficult that must be. We are staying at a 5-star hotel and being pampered while a mom and wife are separated 10 months out of the year from her family, to make a living for them.  I felt sad, as we as Americans take so many things for granted

I asked her what could be done and if her daughter and/or husband could come to visit at least while she was here working. She mentioned looking into getting a Visa for her daughter. I told her I wanted to help. I didn’t know what that would look like or what I could even do but God had put it on my heart to offer. She was moved and asked if she could give me a hug. I eagerly accepted it. She also agreed that God brought her down to our floor for this reason. (She was working another floor and stopped there, went up, and got her cart to service our room). I searched frantically for a business card, which I never leave home without, but couldn’t find one. I finally found my business brochure that had my contact info and gave it to her. I asked her to please keep in touch and let me know what she found out and how I could help.

I came back to my room to find this on our bed.

It brought tears to my eyes again.  I pray that she will keep in touch and/or allow me to help her. I can’t imagine a better gift that I could give than to reunite a family, especially a mother and her daughter. I told myself that when I went home I was going to make it more of a priority to help those who aren’t as blessed as I am.  I now remotely understand how when people go on a mission trip they come back changed.

Although the Omni Resort was far from the mission field, I was given an opportunity to serve someone who is far less fortunate than I. I left a generous tip in the room with a note encouraging her to keep in touch. I can’t wait to write the happy ending to this story. I have a few ideas on how I am going to make it work so stay tuned for future posts.

And a couple of things we can all do is number one, appreciate how good of a life we have in the United States. Second, slow down to connect with people and learn about their lives. Last, but most importantly, we can pray for others. I didn’t hear from her and I know the hotel couldn’t provide her contact information, but I pray for her and her family often, especially her daughter.