RING OF KINDNESS

Newlywed Teresa Eeftink took off her wedding rings to put on some hand lotion. She slipped the rings in her pocket and headed in Famous Barr for some lunch hour shopping last week. Without thinking, she stuck her car keys in the same pocket.

While in the store, near the cosmetics counters, Eeftink reached in her pocket and pulled out the car keys. She had forgotten about the rings and didn't know that her cherished 1-carat diamond engagement ring had fallen to the floor.

Later that evening, Eeftink realized the ring was gone. "I was sick," she said. "I called the store and asked if anyone had seen my ring."

No one had. It was lost.

"I've only been married a year. I didn't have the heart to tell my husband," Eeftink said.

Instead she headed back to the store early the next morning to scour the parking lot. No luck. She went to work, then returned at 10 a.m., when the store opened to begin searching the floors in hopes of finding the ring.

"I just knew I'd never find it, but I had to try," she said.

A clerk noticed Eeftink inspecting the store floors and offered to help. They went to the lost and found and there, much to Eeftink's surprise was her ring.

Housekeeper Carol Lacey had found the ring on the carpet and rescued it from shoppers' feet.

"Never in a 1,000 years did I expect someone to turn it in," said Eeftink. "She deserves a big thank you."

Lacey returns lost items nearly every day. But Eeftink is the first person ever to say thank you.

When she saw the ring she didn't think twice about turning it in.

"I knew it was a very expensive ring," she said. "Besides I have someone who won't let me keep things that aren't mine. I'm a Christian."

The thank you made Lacey's day.

"I think people would do more kind things if people said thank you more often," she said.

Eeftink turned in Lacey to the Southeast Missourian for her Random Act of Kindness. The annual celebration of kindness begins a week from today on Mother's Day.

Stickers, brochures and other supplies are available free to assist in planning events.

To participate, contact the Southeast Missourian at 335-6611.

KINDNESS PARTICIPANTS LIST

Oak Ridge R-6 School District

Kagmo Electric Motor

Residents' wives at Missouri Veterans Home

K's Merchandise

Franklin Elementary School

Good News Christian Center in Jackson

Rose City Motors in Cape Girardeau

Humane Society of Southeast Missouri

Kindercare Learning Center

Scott County Sheriff's Department

New Madrid County Middle School in New Madrid

Cape County Medical Society

Rose City Net

Girardot Rose Chorus of Sweet Adelines, Inc.

Alma Schrader Elementary School

May Greene Elementary School

Washington Elementary School

Jefferson Elementary School

Clippard Elementary School

Schultz Middle School

Small World Pre-School

Step At A Time Preschool

Montessori School

The Early Childhood Center

Kid's Korner Daycare

St. Mary Early Education Center

Trinity Lutheran Day Care

Wee-Care Child and Infant Center

Lyncare at Lynwood Baptist Church

Christian School for the Young Years

Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau

Centenary United Methodist Church

Free stickers, brochures and idea lists are available at the Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway.