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Local woman's kind gesture is returned in spades
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By Elise Hasty
hasty@newstribune.com
It doesn't take a lot of effort to have a big impact - just ask Alice Spencer. Spencer, a 20-year employee at River City Florist, felt compelled to perform a “random act of kindness” for a stranger last March, and her actions resulted in ripple effects that are still continuing today.
Last March Andrea Rau of Washington, Mo., phoned River City Florist to order flowers for a friend who lives in Jefferson City. Rau's friend was recovering from ophthalmic surgery and she wanted to send him some fragrant flowers and a soft stuffed animal. Spencer answered the phone and took the order, a coincidence she today believes happened for a reason.
“It was one of those right person calling at the right time things," Spencer said.
After choosing the softest stuffed animal she could find in the store, Spencer asked Rau what she would like to include in the card.
“I asked her to fill out two cards, one said ‘Never forget how much we care.' On the other one I asked her to fill it out with: ‘If I could attach a nice pot of hot chili, I would,”' Rau said.
Spencer then proceeded to ask when Rau would like the flowers to be delivered. She decided on the following day and Spencer surprisingly added that she would like to make some chili to include with the delivery.
“I had to cook dinner for my three children so I figured I would just make some extra chili to be delivered with the flowers,” Spencer said.
At first, Rau was taken by surprise and reacted telling Spencer “that won't be necessary.”
So Spencer began to tell her story.
Spencer, a 20-year member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Holts Summit, told Rau that her husband had passed away from Lou Gehrig's disease just the week before and this was her first day back at work.
“I told Andrea that so many people have done so many things for my family. I am so grateful for that and I wanted to give back, even if it was something small,” Spencer said.
Doctors had hoped Spencer's husband would live 2-4 years, but he died within nine months.
“A lot of my church members rotated bringing food to the house and they even built a ramp for his wheelchair. They did so much,” Spencer said.
She added, “I feel like I have to pay that back, pay it forward. It's kind of addicting too because you don't have to do a lot to make someone happy.”
Rau then enthusiastically agreed.
“I think it was very kind of her and I try to teach my kids that it is a important to accept gifts graciously. It was a win-win situation,” Rau said.
Spencer had no idea that her small actions would be shared with many other people. About a week ago, Spencer received a call from KFAV, a radio station in St. Charles. The dic jockey read a letter Rau had sent to the station about her “Random Act of Kindness” and informed her she had been nominated for the station's Kindness award. The winner receives a dozen Rosa Roses from Troy Flower Shop in St. Louis.
Rau included in her nomination letter, “I was so moved by the genuine kindness of Alice, even as she was dealing with a tragedy of her own.”
“I was in shock. I hadn't spoken to Andrea since March and I really thought the show was a prank,” Spencer said.
Spencer was grateful for the nomination, but stressed the importance of doing small things for others because it is fun, not for the recognition.
The man who received the chili repaid Spencer's kindness and bought her a small gift.
“It's a chain effect. People struggle with accepting generous gifts and not doing something in return. You feel compelled to repay that kindness and it spreads. It feels good and it's fun,” Spencer said.
Rau also insisted on repaying Spencer's kindness by “buying her anything she could imagine.” Spencer chose to use Rau's gift offer to purchase her husband's headstone.
Rau and Spencer have not yet met, but are planning to in the near future.
Last March Andrea Rau of Washington, Mo., phoned River City Florist to order flowers for a friend who lives in Jefferson City. Rau's friend was recovering from ophthalmic surgery and she wanted to send him some fragrant flowers and a soft stuffed animal. Spencer answered the phone and took the order, a coincidence she today believes happened for a reason.
“It was one of those right person calling at the right time things," Spencer said.
After choosing the softest stuffed animal she could find in the store, Spencer asked Rau what she would like to include in the card.
“I asked her to fill out two cards, one said ‘Never forget how much we care.' On the other one I asked her to fill it out with: ‘If I could attach a nice pot of hot chili, I would,”' Rau said.
Spencer then proceeded to ask when Rau would like the flowers to be delivered. She decided on the following day and Spencer surprisingly added that she would like to make some chili to include with the delivery.
“I had to cook dinner for my three children so I figured I would just make some extra chili to be delivered with the flowers,” Spencer said.
At first, Rau was taken by surprise and reacted telling Spencer “that won't be necessary.”
So Spencer began to tell her story.
Spencer, a 20-year member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Holts Summit, told Rau that her husband had passed away from Lou Gehrig's disease just the week before and this was her first day back at work.
“I told Andrea that so many people have done so many things for my family. I am so grateful for that and I wanted to give back, even if it was something small,” Spencer said.
Doctors had hoped Spencer's husband would live 2-4 years, but he died within nine months.
“A lot of my church members rotated bringing food to the house and they even built a ramp for his wheelchair. They did so much,” Spencer said.
She added, “I feel like I have to pay that back, pay it forward. It's kind of addicting too because you don't have to do a lot to make someone happy.”
Rau then enthusiastically agreed.
“I think it was very kind of her and I try to teach my kids that it is a important to accept gifts graciously. It was a win-win situation,” Rau said.
Spencer had no idea that her small actions would be shared with many other people. About a week ago, Spencer received a call from KFAV, a radio station in St. Charles. The dic jockey read a letter Rau had sent to the station about her “Random Act of Kindness” and informed her she had been nominated for the station's Kindness award. The winner receives a dozen Rosa Roses from Troy Flower Shop in St. Louis.
Rau included in her nomination letter, “I was so moved by the genuine kindness of Alice, even as she was dealing with a tragedy of her own.”
“I was in shock. I hadn't spoken to Andrea since March and I really thought the show was a prank,” Spencer said.
Spencer was grateful for the nomination, but stressed the importance of doing small things for others because it is fun, not for the recognition.
The man who received the chili repaid Spencer's kindness and bought her a small gift.
“It's a chain effect. People struggle with accepting generous gifts and not doing something in return. You feel compelled to repay that kindness and it spreads. It feels good and it's fun,” Spencer said.
Rau also insisted on repaying Spencer's kindness by “buying her anything she could imagine.” Spencer chose to use Rau's gift offer to purchase her husband's headstone.
Rau and Spencer have not yet met, but are planning to in the near future.
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