Portugal Prayer: A Small-Town Act of Kindness That Echoed Across Decades

How one woman’s courage and a grocer’s quiet generosity came full circle - across time, miles, and memory

Some stories stay with you.

This is one of them.

In the late 1970s, I married into a third-generation family business in small-town Saskatchewan.

After World War II, my grandfather-in-law ... known as Old Dave ... used money from selling an Irish Sweepstakes ticket (that probably didn’t win) to open a grocery store. What he started became the heart of a community.

By the time I joined the family, the business had been running for over 25 years. My father-in-law, Dave Sr., was known for his warm smile and genuine service. In a town with three grocery stores, kindness was the real competitive advantage. And Dave delivered it every day.

A shared season of life

Like many young couples, my husband and I started a family.

In 1977, I met Doris at prenatal class. We both had baby girls - mine with wispy blonde hair, hers with a full head of brunette waves. We laughed at the contrast and moved through that season of life side by side.

But life carried us in different directions.

Doris stayed in Shaunavon, raising two kids as a single mom. I raised four and leaned into sports and fitness. Over time, jobs changed, addresses shifted, and our paths diverged.

That’s the way it often goes in small towns - you know everyone, even if you don’t stay in touch.

A chance encounter in Beaumont

In July 2022, I was standing at a new ball diamond in Beaumont, Alberta.

I complimented the tournament organizer, “It’s beautiful. This would’ve been tough to pull off in a small town.”

She asked where I was from. “Shaunavon,” I said.

A voice from a lawn chair nearby chimed in, “My wife’s from Shaunavon. Her name’s Doris.”

We laughed over how often small-town folks are only a few connections apart.

The next day, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned - and there she was. Doris.

A prayer in Portugal

We hugged. We caught up. And then she shared a story that left me speechless.

“Last year, I was in Portugal, visiting the Holy Wall. The guide invited us to say a prayer for someone who had helped us. I remembered being at your family’s store when I didn’t have enough money. Your father-in-law waved me through the till and said, ‘That’s okay. Next time. Have a good day.’ So I sprinkled rose petals and said a prayer for Dave. He was such a good man.”

She smiled. I cried.

Quiet courage, lasting impact

What courage it took for Doris to leave a marriage that wasn’t working. What courage to raise her kids on her own. What courage to receive a simple act of generosity and never forget it.

That moment stayed with me. A reminder that the way we show up, even in small interactions, can ripple across time and place.

She remembered. She paid it forward.

And I left that ball diamond holding the quiet power of kindness in a whole new way.

Want stories like this delivered weekly?

The Courage Chronicle is a weekly dose of true stories, hard truths, and quiet strength.

Sign up here to receive courage, clarity, and connection.