#NolansGift Message in a Bottle Found on Bald Head Island, North Carolina, Inspires Random Acts of Kindness

Among the many magical powers of messages in bottles, my favorite is their ability to bring out the best in people. That, and their ability to connect total strangers in powerful, meaningful ways. The story of the McGee family’s message in a bottle is one of the most beautiful and inspiring stories I have ever heard, and also one of the most heartbreaking. It began when Kara McGee and her husband Marshall tragically lost their first son at birth in March of 2012, according to WECT 6 News in North Carolina. The McGees have gone on to have two healthy boys, and they have a small family celebration each March to commemorate Nolan, the son they lost. This year, they decided to participate in a sort of “pay it forward” phenomenon called the “Five Dollar Fairy”. As Kara explained to WECT, she and her family put $5 bills into envelopes and handed them out to strangers. But they envelopes also contained letters. Kara told WECT “(We) put the story of Nolan inside with the money, and the hashtag #Nolan’sGift.” The idea is to make someone’s day and encourage them to pay it forward by making someone else’s day. On April 1st, 2018 the McGees tried something different. Instead of a letter, they sent out a #NolansGift message in a bottle. Continue reading →