New customer "humbled by the generosity of Brownsburg businesses"

A new customer came in the gallery today! I didn't recognize her since I did not take her order when it was placed. I soon recognized the work by its description on the order. It was an exquisitely rendered pencil drawing of two children. Every customer that had been in recently admired that portrait including my drawing students. It was drawn by a dear friend of hers and given as a gift. The artist had sent it to her through the mail. She told me the story of how it was lost for a few days and he had called her concerned when she did not recieve it. When it arrived she reassured him "Don't worry, I am not just taking it to anyone to frame. I am taking it to this gallery  because I know they'll take good care of it." I asked her how she knew of us. "Because of the work that you've donated she replied." I work at Applebee's, I am just I bartender, but I started coordinating fundraisers when Duane Clark was killed in that accident last year. I have done a couple more since then and you've always been so generous with your donations. " I remembered being stuck on 267  the day of that tragic accident. I was on my way to mass, I had no idea what the nature of the accident was.  Duane Clark  a Brownsburg Fire Fighter, husband, father of two small children and a member of  St. Malachy Parish was killed in a car accident on his way home from work.  When Applebee's  employee  Wendy More asked for a donation I wanted to donate something really special. Our gallery donated a limited edition print of Jesus titled "O Jerusalem" by Greg Olsen. Wendy said that was the first fundraiser that she coordinated. "I am so humbled by the generosity of Brownsburg businesses" she continued. She spoke of the sacrifices she made to coordinate that fundraiser and the ones that followed. I thought of how many small businesses make sacrifices every day to provide their customers with the best service or product, making the time they take to provide any donation of their time, talent, or product that much more meaningful. Businesses are often bombarded with so many requests for donations. We cannot give to everything, though we'd like to. This was the first time I had experienced someone's heartfelt gratitude for my donation. In giving we truly recieve. Wendy recieved an unexpected gift of original art from a friend and we recieved a new customer that truly values our service and product. That is what makes the sacrifices of owning and working at a small business truly worth it. The customer that supports it it and values it. Although today is Small Business Saturday we thank our customers that support our business all year long. Thank you Wendy for your gift back to the community and making my day as a small business owner!