Beth Meyers, a fifth-generation Oregonian, found herself in a challenging position when she got married and moved during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Wanting to make new friends in her new community, Beth initially found it nearly impossible. She and her husband, residing in the city of Molalla, had a turbulent start to their marriage amidst the wildfires that struck Oregon.
“It felt like the whole world was on fire the day after we got married,” Beth told Epoch Times. She shared how they had to cut short their honeymoon and evacuate their home due to the wildfires, leaving her with no familiar faces in the area except for her husband.
The social isolation brought on by the pandemic made it difficult for people to connect with others, but Beth managed to make some friends at outdoor recreational places. However, as a full-time homemaker homeschooling her son, their lives took different paths as her group members returned to work and had their children go back to regular schooling.
“It was a perfect storm of a social environment for me,” Beth said. “My son, who has mild autism, has always found making friends challenging, but he has come a long way, and making friends is much easier for him now.”
Feeling the need to find a new group of friends, Beth turned to prayer.
Before long, her prayers for new friends were answered in a surprising way. One day at Fox Park in Clackamas County, Beth and her son came across a couple frantically preparing for their daughter’s fifth birthday party. Offering to help, Beth could sense the stress they were under and stepped in.
“I watched my son and their daughter playing together – she was an absolute little princess in a fluffy, rainbow-colored butterfly dress,” Beth recounted. “It was a butterfly-themed party, and she was running around announcing how special her birthday was. She was so vivid and lovely.”
Seeing that the volunteers scheduled to assist hadn’t arrived, Beth stepped up, much to the relief of the anxious parents. She rushed home to grab some supplies, returned, and helped set up for the party before staying to join in the colorful celebration.
“I got to meet their whole family,” Beth said. “Everyone was great. I met their niece and nephew. It was just incredible.”
Joining a large group of around 20 adults and children, Beth found herself welcomed with open arms. By the end of the three-hour party, new friendships and connections had been forged.
The mother of the birthday girl even expressed interest in helping out when Beth’s son’s birthday arrives next summer.
“I don’t need anything in return, but that would be fun,” Beth said, reflecting on the day when she hadn’t even planned on going to the park. “We were at a different park initially, and my son asked if we could go to another one. I believe that day was divine intervention.”
This heartwarming story showcases how a simple act of kindness and serendipitous encounters can lead to the formation of meaningful connections and lasting friendships.