John Paul Strong

Sometimes Just Surprise Everyone

3d rendering flying gift boxes in room corner. Christmas, Party, Birthday concept.

You go through life every day, and you sometimes feel like nothing can ever surprise you. There’s not going to be anything in any given day that’s going to shock you or change your outcome of how you go about your day.

But then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, somebody gives you something out of a simple conversation you had with the most unsuspecting person to create such a gift that you’re just blown away and truly at a loss for words.

I was getting my hair cut the other week, and the person who cuts my hair has really become a good friend of mine. We talk about life, our kids, current events, the country, everything going on in our daily lives. One thing that goes on a lot in my life is hunting. I’ve always loved to hunt. I grew up hunting, I’m now starting to take my kids hunting. Hunting is part of the fabric of my existence and my life. While getting my hair cut and talking about hunting, I made the comment that I was out of ammo for my rifle. I only had three shells left. Luckily, deer season was ending, and I wouldn’t need any more until next year. My hairdresser said, “My husband probably knows where to find some ammo. Tell me what kind you want, and I’ll see if he can get it.”

I kind of shrugged it off in disbelief because, in the year 2021 with everything that’s gone on in the world like Covid, riots, and raids on the Capitol, finding ammunition is one of the hardest things to do. So, I shrugged it off and kept talking, and she said again, “No, seriously, tell me what kind of ammo. My husband is really into guns and can probably find it.”

I get a call last night. Her husband has not only found the ammo but has bought me four boxes of it. When I try to repay the favor, she simply won’t take the money. It’s the kind of surprise that completely blew me away and is a great reminder that sometimes it’s great to show up in people’s lives with something that is such a big surprise to them that you absolutely leave them speechless.