A story of gratitude

In the book,The Spirit of Canada. there are 101 stories of love and gratitude, compiled by Amy Newmark and Janet Matthews. The book is in the Chicken soup for the soul series. One of the stories is told by Lacy Gray from Clarksville, Indiana, U.S.A. She spent some time in Canada, working with a school division. She was in her last week of work before returning to the U.S.A.

During that week, he supervisor spoke to her, saying that they’d be meeting in the board room at 11 o’clock. She said to herself, “What’s going on?” As she wrote, “I was a union member, and usually the group just bought cake and said their goodbyes in the break room.”

The thought of meeting in the board room made her nervous, and she wondered if she had done something wrong. She thought she had made a good effort to adjust to her work and life in Canada. As she wrote, “As the years passed, it became clear that in Canada I had found some of the kindest, friendliest and most generous people I had ever met. In the end they came to realize that all Americans were not as they had imagined.”

Now it was time for her to bid farewell to those with whom she had worked, so she anxiously made her way to the board room. But as she entered the room, she was very surprised. As she wrote, “The room was filled with union members and administration and board members, and the screen was set up for a presentation. I was escorted to a table that was covered with gifts and cards. There was a Canadian flag cake.

“I couldn’t even speak. They began the presentation with a warm Canadian welcome to this American girl .... As I read the cards, tears filled my eyes. I realized I had been accepted. I was loved by these wonderful people, and it was overwhelming.”

She expressed her thanks, as best she could, and they responded by clapping. Then thinking it was all over, she was surprised when the hostess said, “And now we have a special guest to present you with a gift.”

At that point, an RCMP officer entered the room with a large parcel in his hands, Her friend gave a lovely speech about her and how much she was appreciated. When the RCMP officer handed her the gift, she opened it. It was an Inukshuk.

The Canadian dictionary defines Inukshuk as “a stone cairn having the rough outline of a human figure, traditionally built by the Inuit to serve as landmarks.”

In the arctic, the terrain is such that they need landmarks to guide them.

My friend explained what it was and what it represented. She said, “The Inukshuk will always guide you home.” She realized how greatly “honoured and valued” she was. She felt that, although she was American, she would “always have a little Canadian in her heart.”

She closes her story by saying, “And in my yard, pointing north, is my Inukshuk, telling me I have another home outside the boundaries of my land.”

Harvie Barker is a Penticton resident and writer of inspirational messages. He’s the author of the book, A Good Word in Season Volume 8, now available at the front desk of The Penticton Herald for $10 with all proceeds to local charity.