- Nancy Lawrence experienced kindness when strangers gave roses at Lakeview Hospital.
- Volunteers left roses with notes, saying, "You are loved so much," on cars.
- Lawrence felt uplifted and believes small acts of kindness can change the world.
BOUNTIFUL — Nancy Lawrence realized the power of kind acts on Wednesday afternoon when, after walking to her car in the Lakeview Hospital parking lot, she met some kind faces spreading love and goodness.
She believes that the story is powerful and could express her gratitude while encouraging others to continue serving in small ways.
Lawrence was feeling tired and worn down after leaving the emergency room. She had taken a loved one to the hospital and was having a difficult day. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a woman with a large bouquet of roses. Dismissing it as a romantic gesture of some sort, she laughed to herself at how lucky that woman was.
Soon enough, she noticed six or seven other people carrying bouquets of long-stemmed roses, as well.
"They were putting a rose on every car in the parking lot with a handwritten note that said, 'You are loved so much,'" Lawrence said. "I was curious who they were and why they were doing it. I caught the attention of one of them and asked."
She quickly learned that they were individuals not representing any specific service organization or city, but were, in their own words, "people who care."
The volunteers said that they lived close, appreciated the hospital and wanted to cheer up the patients and loved ones who had been staying in the facility. The moment was heartwarming for Lawrence. After her long day and challenging situation, she felt seen, loved and served.
"The world is in such a screwed up place right now, and I thought it was so nice that there are people who are just trying to be kind and nice to other people as opposed to being contentious and angry," Lawrence said.
She believes that small acts have power, such as the notes and flowers on the cars.
"It becomes imperative for us as individuals to focus on trying to do good things. If enough of us do a positive thing, then eventually, that could change the world," Lawrence shared. "It's a pretty big world full of a lot of problems right now, but it is certainly helpful. I brought my rose home, put it in a pretty little vase with the note with it, and it's still sitting on my table."
The kindness also encouraged Lawrence to keep fighting her battles. With a multitude of health and other related challenges, the note was what she needed to keep pushing forward.
"I find it hard to function sometimes. But as I pass that little vase with the flower in it and read the sign, it truly does put me in a more positive space where I can function better," Lawrence said.
