The Prom-dress Shop

The Prom-Dress Shop

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Romans 12:10

Racks of hundreds of donated sparkling, brightly colored dresses edged the room, and star-shaped balloons bobbed overhead, listing their sizes. Dressing rooms were in one area, snacks in another. Seamstresses were on hand for alterations. The prom for students with special needs was more than a month away, but the prom-dress shop—an event in its own right—had arrived.

As the girls filtered in to the pop-up dress shop, they were paired with personal shoppers who listened to their preferences and suggested dresses to try on. Some girls, despite being in their late teens and early twenties, had no idea what size formal gown would fit them. They’d never attended a prom before, never had an occasion like this for which to buy a formal dress. Whenever a girl finished trying on all her options and finally chose the dress she deemed to be the perfect fit, she would return to the front and ring the bell, while everyone else in the room cheered and clapped.

It was a day of celebration. And as the day wore on, it became profoundly clear that the parents were overwhelmed with how the event catered to their daughters, aiming to make them feel like princesses for a day. As the parents wiped away tears, their comments could be overheard:

• “She looks so beautiful.”
• “I never thought she’d be able to go to prom.”
• “I can’t believe you guys are doing this.”
• “Thank you so, so much.”

For the girls who visited the prom-dress shop, it wasn’t just the dresses that made them feel magical. It was the way in which the people at the shop went out of their way to make them feel special and valued. All the workers were volunteers, and it was clear that they cared for the girls with genuine affection, and they delighted in honoring their very special guests.

—Kristin

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

How can you make someone feel special? Through your words or actions, go out of your way to make their joy your aim.