Painted toenails

I recently had my very first pedicure experience. Actually, I take that back. I had my first professional pedicure on Monday, but I have had pedicure experience once before.
About 4 years ago, I was living in Seattle. My family was planning a reunion on the beach in Washington, and because I lived nearest, I was doing the planning, shopping, etc. I was a little overwhelmed and running behind, what with my own cleaning, laundry, packing issues, so the exhaustion showed on my face.
The day before we were to leave on our trip, a dear sweet friend of mine showed up and told me she was there to paint my toenails. I was a bit surprised. I don't usually have painted toenails and hadn't taken even a moment to consider the condition of my feet. My friend Jenn told me that she knew I had been busy and crazy and wanted me to have cute feet for my week on the beach with my family. She had me sit right then and there in the kitchen, and painted my toenails bright pink. Then she took out white polish and embellished each nail with little dot daisies. They looked quite festive by the time she was finished.
She asked if I needed help with anything else, and then left telling me to have a great week and said she looked forward to seeing us back in a week. Then she was gone. I enjoyed my bright toenails that week and thinking about them made me smile and think of Jenn.
I have often thought about my friend and her small act of kindness and pampering. This one gesture taught me many things:
Take time for yourself, especially when you think you don't have time for anything.
A small thing done for a friend can make a huge difference.
People who really, really love you will paint your toenails even when your feet are calloused and dirty from running around barefoot all day.
Pink is a happy color for toenails, and an especially nice background for daisies.
Although having Jenn paint my toenails didn't have any religious meaning, I couldn't help but think about Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. It's a very personal way to show love.
So Monday when I had a stranger in a salon painting my nails, I realized how different the two experiences were for me. They were both acts of service, but one was expensive and impersonal, and one was love and generosity and caring and selflessness and totally Jenn. Looking at my painted toenails now reminds me of that sweet thing my friend did for me then, and it makes me smile.