Unexpected Hospitality

I had three women coming over for a get-together and conversation a couple of weeks ago. I had promised tea and coffee, and I baked a batch of almond poppyseed muffins. I sliced some store-bought lemon muffins to round things out. The house was clean, everything was ready.

And then it hit me: I don’t have any coffee cups.

I have one mug I use daily and one lonely Christmas-themed cup, but that is it. I downsized before moving to Alaska, and either gave away or packed away most of my kitchen things. That box of mugs may still be hiding in the shed, or it may have been in the give-away pile, but regardless, I needed to find something.

With about an hour until my guests arrived, I headed to Olerud’s, just down the street. The only mugs they had were souvenir-style and more than I wanted to spend per cup for this occasion. Next stop: IGA. I found a few travel mugs, but not coffee cups. I wandered a bit before asking one of the checkers if they carried simple coffee cups or tea cups. She gave it a quick look, then asked a coworker to help.

He took over the search, but after a quick scan of the shelves, he confirmed: no coffee cups.

Then he asked me, “When is your event?”

“In about an hour,” I said, a little embarrassed.

“Oh,” he replied, “that won’t work then. I was going to offer to go home and bring you some of my coffee cups.”

I just stood there for a second. A stranger, on the clock at his job, offered to go home and get me what I needed.

“That,” I told him, “is one of the kindest things anyone has ever offered to do for me. Thank you!”

I ended up buying paper cups, but my guests did not seem to mind. 

But his offer has stayed with me.

In a world that can feel rushed, transactional, and distant, that one moment of human kindness reminded me: people still surprise me. Friend, don't forget: sometimes the smallest gestures, an offer, a smile, a few extra minutes of someone's day, leave the biggest impact!

A few days ago I had posted on a local social media page asking if anyone knew where I could rent a pressure washer. I got a couple of helpful suggestions, but then one man simply replied, “I’ll be back in town Tuesday. I have a pressure washer you can borrow.” And that is exactly how I came into possession of a really nice pressure washer...from a complete stranger. He did not even ask where I lived. (Granted, it’s a small town... but still.)

There is something disarming about that kind of trust. Generosity without strings. It is a rare kind of kindness that expects nothing in return, just a quiet, neighborly willingness to help. And just one more reason I LOVE Haines, Alaska!

I thought of the verse in Philippians that reads: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 ESV

That verse captures both the unexpected kindness of the checker and the generosity of the man with the pressure washer; ordinary people quietly looking out for someone else.

By Jeanette Stark - Monday, June 30, 2025