When have you experienced the selfless service of another?

I had a rough time when I was a teenager. I was on my own a lot, and I was working full-time while still in school. One year I spent months saving my money because I wanted to get my hair colored by the fancy stylist who took care of my friends’ hair. It was winter in Iowa, and the temperature was close to zero the day of my appointment. When I got there the stylist was shocked to see that I was not wearing a coat! She had only met me briefly on previous occasions when I accompanied my friends, but she took this very seriously! When I explained to her that I didn’t have a coat, she quickly realized that I, being a teenager and making teenage decisions, had elected to get my hair done rather than buy a sensible item like a coat. She offered to do my hair for free, but I turned her down. I had saved up for quite some time to get my hair done, and I was ready to pay! Afterward, we ended up talking for an extra hour about our families, our lives, etc. She stopped me when I was getting ready to leave and handed me a beautiful, expensive yellow coat that had been hanging on the wall. She explained that someone had left the coat there and I should take it with me. I thanked her and turned her down again because I was sure someone would come back to get that gorgeous, pricey coat. I left, and a week later she called and asked me to come back to the salon. The coat was still there, and she wanted me to have it. I took it that time and stayed warm the rest of the season. Years later I went back to that salon (older and wiser) and saw a picture of the stylist with her family. They were all bundled up in a Christmas photo, and the stylist was wearing the yellow coat. In my own naivete, I hadn’t realized then that she was literally giving me the coat off her back! I have never forgotten that gift and I never will.

Submitted by Karen Williams