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Home General What I’m Thankful for #13: Thoughtful Surprises

11/20/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

What I’m Thankful for #13: Thoughtful Surprises

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive.

This is an easier kind of surprise to write about than “the surprises God sends my way”. And it’s quite a surprise that I’m even writing about it.

Yesterday, out of the blue and completely unexpected, a co-worker gave me a very thoughtful gift: a baseball autographed by future Hall-of-Fame relief pitcher and all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman (it doesn’t hurt to know that my own Detroit Tigers may be courting the free agent this offseason). I was quite taken aback by the thoughtfulness and generosity behind it.

This co-worker had invited me and the lovely Mrs. Virtus to attend the Denver Rotary’s Branch Rickey Award ceremony – which has a great story behind it, as well. Unfortunately, we were unable to attend. Diehard baseball fan that I am, it wasn’t easy to give the regrets while knowing that Trevor Hoffman would be there in person. But alas, I gave it very little further thought.

Then this morning, I learned of a sudden that this co-worker had gone out of her way and waited in line to get the baseball personally autographed for me. Kind of humbling, really. It’s that kind of unexpected generosity that should evoke not only gratitude and appreciation but also the desire to replicate it to others around us. Thanks again, Nancy!

Filed Under: General, My Life, Sports and Leisure Tagged With: Baseball, Branch Rickey Award, co-worker, Denver Rotary, Detroit Tigers, free agent, generosity, Hall-of-Fame, Mrs. Virtus, relief pitcher, surprises, thankfulness, thoughtful, Trevor Hoffman

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Ben DeGrow
Grateful and growing Christian, devoted husband and father of 3, public policy analyst, returned to Michigan by way of Colorado, conservative writer, lifelong learner, Detroit Tigers fan.

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