Penny from Heaven

Penny was coming over with her hand-made Bingo cards for my brother-in-law, Joel. He was truly excited and couldn’t wait to play with her. She always lets him win.

Since his second stroke, Joel has struggled with eating and bathing and needed help. My wife heard about Penny who told us she had gone to Hollywood to be an actress and then came home after cancer took one of her legs. Since then, she has been a caregiver.

My mother-in-law had always taken care of her eldest son with Down Syndrome and never asked for aid. But she admits Penny is “God sent,” enthusiastically giving and compassionate, making Joel’s life a little better every day.

The Talmud says, “The highest form of wisdom is kindness.” Penny is not Jewish but she demonstrates the essence of tikkun olam, helping to repair Joel among others.

I have given Joel presents and taken him to sports events but Penny has demonstrated that selfless moments of kindness are more meaningful: the simplest, most precious of gifts.