The Mailbox | A Beautiful Story of Kindness & Connection | Amannda G. Maphies | Inspiring Story #208

My parents have the sweetest, most precious, little spitfire of a neighbor. Ms. Helen is 91 years young. She is a widow and has more class, grace, sass, and goodwill in her tiny pinky finger than many humans have in their entire body. My parents look after Helen, along with several other neighbors and nearby friends.

Recently, my dad made it his mission to move Helen’s mailbox, as it was placed down a somewhat steep driveway, off a very busy highway. Helen was on board with a new mailbox placement, but did not know where to begin. Alas, my dad found a new project….

He contacted the local rural mail service and made arrangements to change the location of Helen’s original mailbox. He had numerous conversations with their shared rural mail carrier, Yancey, explaining the change that was soon to come.

Since Helen’s house is brick, she did not wish to attach a mailbox to the surface. My dad, an avid collector, who is always on the hunt for old items to repurpose, happened to find an old-fashioned brown milk can at a flea market. He recalled the first mailbox he and my mother shared during his final semester at the University of Missouri, Columbia. The wheels in his head began to turn.

Where on earth would he find a mailbox that could work?

Several days later, my father, having secured an old mailbox, lovingly placed the hollow metal mail container into the concrete-filled milk can. He carefully chose the perfect location, within close proximity to Helen’s front door.

One Simple Act of Kindness Can Mean So Much 

Helen can now safely retrieve her mail without fear of falling or speedy traffic. Not to mention, the rural mail carrier can drive through her half circle drive, deposit the mail, and be on his way, without ever exiting his vehicle – a feat impossible with the placement of the original mailbox.

Earlier this week, I was in my car with my dad. He received a phone call. He put it on speaker, and I was privileged to hear the most precious conversation between my dad and Helen, his sweet neighbor.

She thanked him for the work he did on her new mailbox. She said how blessed she felt to have such loving neighbors to care for her. Lastly, she invited him to retrieve some timeless treasure in her backyard shed. Something truly ‘Duane-worthy’, when he had the time to visit. As my father hung up the phone, he thought aloud about the whole scenario.

Later that same day, we drove by Helen’s house. My dad peered out the window at her new mailbox, which has seen many years; some of service, others in storage. But now, with a newfound calling, that old mailbox has once again found a home, along with a fresh new purpose. A home with an elderly widow named Helen, who is so unbelievably delighted to now have a simpler and safer way to get her daily mail.

As we passed by, I looked out the window, pride running through my veins, at the ingenuity, kindness, and handyman cleverness displayed by the most amazing man I have ever known. It is no surprise to me that he lives to serve others. I have witnessed it my whole life. Yet, it still brings fresh tears to my eyes when I think of how much a small caring gesture can truly touch the heart of the recipient, and very likely the one bestowing such a kind act as well.

I smiled to myself, and my father, in his thoughtful and well-timed way, simply said: “You should write about that. That was your mother’s and my first mailbox. I can still see it standing by the highway at our home in Lake of the Woods Trailer Park years ago; you likely drove by that same spot when you lived in Columbia several years later."

He paused for a moment and added with a satisfied smile, “I’m glad I kept it.”