Hey. Thank you for the tomatoes. I don’t know who you are, or how you got them to my doorstep anonymously. But thank you.
They are Slocomb tomatoes. The best in the known Western world. The last of the season. Red. Warm from the sun. Juicy. Have mercy.
I’d also like to say thanks to the little girl who opened the door for the boy in the wheelchair. The boy was wheeling toward the door. She raced to the door and held it open. She must’ve been nine years old, hair in ribbons.
He thanked her.
She answered, “Sure” in the voice of a little girl. But she is not a little girl. She is an incredible human being.
Thank you to the man who gave his hat to the Hispanic kid. The kid was in the open sunlight, standing beside his older sister, who held a cardboard sign. They were begging for money in Pensacola.
People drove past them. People wouldn’t even look at them.
But you did, sir. You gave that child your own hat. An Arkansas Razorbacks hat, of all things.
I was three cars behind you. I made a note about what you did in a little notebook in my truck. That’s what writers do. We carry notebooks. And I’d almost forgotten about what you did until today, when I found that notebook.
And thank you, Robbie. You are the right arm of my elderly mother-in-law. You drive her around town. You water every fern, scrub every dish, change every light bulb. And I’ll bet if you had a mind to, you could install brand new heating and cooling ductwork using nothing but a roll of duct tape and the Bible.
Thank you, Sylvia. Thank you for hugging my neck in the middle of a grocery store, even though we’ve never met in person before. Thank you for giving me a handwritten poem that reads:
“I, beneath Heaven and Earth, am,
“Though it may be that I am not,
“Beneath them, but within,
“With the saints, spirits, angels, and God,
“And all that swims around me. Now.”
Thank you, Freddie Freeman. You are my favorite Atlanta Brave. This year, you will earn 21 million dollars as a base salary, and thereby can afford to purchase two British Virgin Islands.
But you give me something to cheer for when I watch baseball. And you give kids something to believe in. And adults, too. And you are a very good batter. Thank you.
Thank you, Lily. My niece. You might not know this, Lily, but you are the miracle of my family.
You are the person who reminded us that life did not end because of sadness. You showed us that beautiful things can be born.
You reminded me that there is love to be seen, heard, touched, smelled, and talked about. You are only a toddler, but one day you will read this. Maybe after I am gone. I want you to know that I love you. Just for being born.
Thank you, Jamie. For letting me be me. I could never seem to do it. I kept getting lost. And confused. I forgot what I was. Who I was.
You let me make mistakes. And you gave me you. I’ve never been given a whole person before. That was a very big gift. And it was worth more than Freddie Freeman’s base salary.
Thank you, Mama. For being like nobody else, and for surviving, and for listening, and for teaching me to use my inside voice.
And you. I don’t want to leave you out of this. Thank you for being you.
You might not believe this, but I don’t think this world would keep spinning if you weren’t standing on it. I mean it.
I think the earth would stop, and we’d all float into outer space and die of sudden asphyxiation and have our internal organs sucked out through our nostrils from a critical gravity deficit.
You are vital to this whole thing—whatever “this” is. You. I know you don’t think much of yourself. I know you think you’re overlooked. But you’re wrong.
Look at the sky. The moon. The earth. The flowers. The clouds. Puppies. Pound cake. Sunsets. The simple words you’re reading now. It’s all for you. Every ounce of it. You just don’t know it yet.
You deserve a thank-you for what you do. For the people you love. And one day, when we meet, when time will be no more, I will be in line to shake your hand. For helping that woman load heavy potting soil into her trunk. For giving that kid a hat. For loving a child.
And for the tomatoes.
42 comments
James E Godwin - August 30, 2018 5:58 am
Sweet, beautiful thoughts Sean! We love you Man!
Gale Smith - August 30, 2018 6:17 am
Thank you Sean, for reminding us of what’s really important. And for celebrating the everyday heroes with us. May we all have and keep “an attitude of gratitude.”
Pamela McEachern - August 30, 2018 7:24 am
What Gale said…
Peace and Love from Birmingham
Susan Self - August 30, 2018 7:59 am
How can you know what I need to hear? You are the tug of my sleeve, to make it ok. Thanks Sean.
Brian Cardin - August 30, 2018 9:35 am
And thank you Sean for the “thank you”. That inner voice your mama taught you to recognize is alive and well.
Nancy - August 30, 2018 9:50 am
I needed to hear this so much today. You just don’t know what a difference you make in our lives. Love you, Sean!
Elizabeth Edens - August 30, 2018 10:11 am
Hey, thank you for sharing you and your life with the rest of us people walking this earth.
Janie's Jottings - August 30, 2018 11:04 am
No matter how low I may be feeling I can read your words and they lift me up. All of us need to know we matter, thank you for reminding me of that again Sean. I just love this!
Laurie Wasilewski - August 30, 2018 11:30 am
As usual, Sean, you have brought tears to my eyes, you have touched my soul, and you have reminded me of the things for which I should be grateful. Thank you!
Bo - August 30, 2018 11:50 am
It’s growing. About a year ago my brother “turned me on” to you. I shared you with several people. The other day one of them thanked me and said he shared and now his whole Sunday School Class now looks forward daily to you. Yesterday I shared you with a dear friend and helped him subscribe. I can’t wait until he tells me how much this morning’s Sean comforted, motivated, inspired and “centered” him. And…..thank you David, my brother for sharing this gift with me.
Travis - August 30, 2018 11:53 am
Good read Sean
THANK YOU for providing me your stories each morning as me day begins!
Terri C Boykin - August 30, 2018 12:01 pm
Thank you Sean, you make my day, most everyday, God bless you!
Michael Guilday - August 30, 2018 12:03 pm
Sean, as a resident of Pensacola I know every intersection, every homeless face on every corner. If I stopped and offered a quarter to everyone of them, everyday, seven days a week, thirty days a month etc. I’d be plum broke in a couple months. I’ve spoken to many of them in Pensacola. They chose to live the life style they are living. I’ve finally come to the realization that it’s not my responsibility to finance their life style. No one financed mine.
LARRY WALL - September 4, 2018 4:35 pm
Michael, I am a softhearted sort of old chap whose own early life wasn’t so easy, so I understand helping others. But, I agree with you when those asking for a handout choose to live in their state of poverty. Many do so rather than making any effort to help themselves, because in our country any serious effort will be successful at some level. I do hurt for children who are required to endure the choices of parents.
Karen Hand - August 30, 2018 12:04 pm
Please add me to your list to receive your daily thoughts. Wmkhand@yahoo.com. Thank,you for today’s thoughts. I WAS really feeling down and then I read your words of encouragement. I cried when you said I am important. Who knew? And I love your descriptive language about flying off into space with all our stuff floating out of our nose. Just too funny. And I could see it and laughed. Thank you for being you. Hugs, Karen
Carol Houston Rothwell - August 30, 2018 12:19 pm
Thank you for who you are and for bringing all the good things in life to us. We forget sometimes , stuck in our little worlds that there are good people out there and the news doesn’t want us to see it,,
But you see it and now we can too!!!
Thank you!
Love ya!
Connie Havard Ryland - August 30, 2018 12:38 pm
And thank you. For the smiles and the tears. For the hugs when you meet a stranger. For sharing the world that you see, so we see it too.
Eleanot Brownfield - August 30, 2018 12:49 pm
Thank you so much. Eleanor
Deena - August 30, 2018 1:13 pm
I so look forward to your posts every day. Thanks for the smiles and the love you have for all of us in this crazy world. Thank you for keeping the important stuff real. Thank you for being you. ❤️
Brenda - August 30, 2018 1:15 pm
Thank you for reminding me, I need to write some thank you letters myself. I have been blessed, and some days I need to be reminded.
Jeanne Butler - August 30, 2018 1:15 pm
And thank you. Needed that this morning. My granddaughter left early for a college class. Her dad can’t afford to let her stay in the dorm. And she goes to classes in a part of college in a bad part of town. She should be going to college in Cazenovia New York. Got a wonderful scholarship but her dad couldn’t pay the difference. I worry about her every day. I don’t have much to be thankful for but I am thankful for you every day in my email. Love you Sean
Pat - August 30, 2018 2:07 pm
Thanks for reminding us that small things DO get noticed and they matter!
Bobby - August 30, 2018 2:11 pm
You need to find a way to sneak your daily columns into the daily “must read” stack of the POTUS and all members of Congress.
Edna B. - August 30, 2018 2:24 pm
Thank you Sean for another uplifting post. You are a blessing to us, and you make my days a little brighter. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.
Minnie Bourque - August 30, 2018 2:46 pm
…..and thank you, Sean, for being here for us….your grateful readers. We love you and all you give to others!
Andy Gartman - August 30, 2018 2:58 pm
Dear Sean,
You’re welcome.
Andy Gartman - August 30, 2018 2:58 pm
P.S. See you in Enterprise September 15.
Eileen Odegaard - August 30, 2018 4:02 pm
Don’t start my day before reading your daily posts. You certainly touch everyone!
Thank you for sharing. Eileen
Ellen Cameron - August 30, 2018 4:31 pm
You did “IT” once again!!! You touch my heart daily!
Shelton Armour - August 30, 2018 4:39 pm
Thank you for all you share. You touch our lives. And remind us that, we too, are capable of kindness. Thanks, you’re worth more than Freddie Freeman’s salary too (but you’re right, he is tearin’ it up!).
Jody - August 30, 2018 4:53 pm
You remind me to see the blessings in people around me. Love the messages you share.
perry5360 - August 30, 2018 7:16 pm
Heaven is the love in your heart multiplied by ….i don’t know …infinety and you sir are a little piece of heaven on earth. Thank you
Susan Swiderski - August 30, 2018 7:42 pm
We rarely know what kind of ripples we cause in the world’s pool, but YOU, dear sir, make an enormous splash. Your words matter more than you could possibly know. Thank you for being you.
Dolores - August 30, 2018 9:40 pm
OMG! Have I been in a stup not to have thought of the depth, love, and truth of your commentary on my own? You are truly an eye- and a heart- opener! God blessed!
Karan - August 30, 2018 9:42 pm
What a beautiful way to start the day, remember throughout the day, and even as the day ends. Humanity can be beautiful. Thanks for helping us see and remember.
Jack Darnell - August 31, 2018 1:28 am
Always a good visit here. Thanks for keeping it all real. Boy would I give thanks for ’em tomatoes!!
Edy - August 31, 2018 3:04 am
Beautiful
Susan - August 31, 2018 3:32 am
Sean, about 20 years ago, my late husband and I were visiting Cashiers, North Carolina. One day we met a local who warned us: Keep your windows rolled up. You never know when some zucchini might appear in your back seat!
TIFFANY INNES - September 1, 2018 12:45 am
Thank you for your writing, it’s wonderful and uplifting. I’m so grateful and grateful to my friend who shared your words with me.
Rita - September 1, 2018 1:01 am
Beautiful. Simply beautiful. Bless you. You make my heart happy.
Pat Pecnik - October 26, 2018 11:31 am
Thank you Sean for the awareness, gratitude, love and hope. It means a lot to a lot of God’s people. ?
Beckie - October 26, 2018 1:19 pm
Thank you for reminding us to give of ourselves in whatever way we can.