Food is a big deal in the South especially when there is an occasion like someone has a baby, one isn’t feeling well or if there’s a death in a family.  We Southerners pride ourselves in showing our love and concern by cooking and delivering food and sitting a spell to gaga over a new life, hold the hand of the bereaved or offer comfort to the ailing. 

This past weekend, me and my family were the recipients of some good old Southern comfort courtesy of a friend of a friend whom we have only met once!  This sweet 83-year-old lady heard through the grapevine I was ill.  She called our house Saturday mid-day to say she would like to stop by late afternoon to bring over a casserole (casseroles and fried chicken are pretty typical Southern comfort foods).  Her kind generosity was a most pleasant surprise and one we greatly appreciated.

When late afternoon rolled around, this delightful Southern lady walked through my front door with her arms full of goodies; a delicious chicken casserole, homemade chocolate pie, cookies, fresh apples and pears from her fruit trees and fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from her garden, among other things.  I managed to drag my exhausted self from my bed to greet and thank her profusely.  My new friend stayed just long enough for a brief chat and not wear out her welcome (another trait of a mindful Southerner).

This friend of a friend’s generosity and act of kindness reminded me that when the chips are down (and they’ve been down a lot around here lately), there are still kind-hearted, generous and loving people in this world whether they be Southern or not.