To the editor: I just recently moved to Meansville, Ga., and have lived there exactly a week. In that time, I have moved, started a new job, and moved my kids into a new daycare, so I have been a little stressed, to say the least.

On Saturday, my mother came up from our hometown two hours south to visit me and the kids and see our new house. We decided to head into Griffin and grab some lunch. I have been to Griffin a few times, but still don’t really know my way around, so I was a little stressed about that, too, because I could get lost in a brown paper sack. We made it to the restaurant in one piece and about half-way through eating, my 2-year-old son starting screaming hysterically and grabbing his ear.

Any mother knows the “I’m in horrible pain” scream that your child does when it’s really bad. Well, this was one of those screams. We jumped up, leaving our meal unfinished and headed to the only place I knew of in Griffin that could see him that day. As soon as we walked in the door my heart dropped. There was an hour-and-45-minute wait time. Anyone who has ever held her child screaming in pain knows that 10 minutes is too long to wait, so my heart sank at the thought of having to sit there for almost two hours. When we sat down, my son was inconsolable. He was screaming and crying and my heart was breaking.

After about 30 minutes of waiting a very nice lady that I had spoken with when we got there motioned for me to come up to the front desk. When I got up there, she informed me that she was next in line and that she was going to give us her spot. I couldn’t believe my ears. As I stood there fighting back tears I gave the receptionist our name again and she said we would be called back in just a second.

I stood there looking at this complete stranger who had just given us such a huge gift. I said “thank you.” I knew that was not enough, but there was nothing else I could give her. I couldn’t give her back the extra time she would have to spend waiting. I walked back to my seat knowing that I had just witnessed one of God’s angels, and as soon as I sat down they called our names.

The doctor told us that Reece had a double ear infection and strep throat. We got our medicine and headed to leave. When we came through the door back into the waiting room she was still waiting to be seen. I told her “thank you” again and my mother and daughter hugged her neck. When we got in the car I broke down into tears. This world is an ugly place sometimes. It beats us down and makes us feel like we can’t catch a break. That wonderful lady will never know how much that meant to me on so many levels. She didn’t just help me get my child into the doctor quicker, she restored my belief in human nature. It was a beautiful moment for me and I really hope that she gets to read this so she will know how truly thankful I am and how she inspired me.

AMANDA O’NEAL

Meansville resident