Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her column appears every Tuesday.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a conference in Lakeville with other women from my church. The topic of the day was service and how we can use our time and talents to serve and do nice things for those around us where we feel inclined to help.

A few weeks prior to the conference, I was asked to be one of about a dozen or more speakers — four speakers per classroom — who were to talk about how service has impacted their own lives. We were each allotted five to seven minutes to share our thoughts. In each room listening to us speak was probably about 20 or 25 women.

Up until nine months ago when our daughter died unexpectedly, I have always enjoyed being more on the giving side of service. I’ve always tried to do nice things for other people and to cheer people up and that kind of thing, but I haven’t been on the receiving end of service as much as I have been in recent months. Don’t get me wrong — I have had people do nice things for me before, but nothing compares to the kindness that has been shown to my family recently.

Speaking in front of these women was not an easy task. I have no problem writing about my feelings most of the time, but when it comes to sharing my feelings about such a difficult experience out loud in front of a crowd, it was a bit overwhelming.

I played out the things I wanted to talk about in the days leading up to the conference. There have been so many nice things done, I wanted to touch on as many as I could.

There were prayers, meals, cards and flowers. One of our neighbors mowed our lawn; another neighbor offered to let my mother-in-law stay at their home for a few days.

There were the dozens of people who blew up pink balloons and placed them on the route from the high school to Lakewood Cemetery.

There have been phone calls and Facebook messages sent, donations given in Sophie’s memory and gifts given to our son.

There have been people who have made us beautiful quilts, and others who have given us artwork in Sophie’s memory.

And that is only the beginning.

Because of the kindness of others in the aftermath of this tragedy, I have gained new friendships from others who have gone through similar experiences and who have gone out of their way to offer a hand of comfort and reassurance.

One especially touching kind act has come in the form of a card sent in the mail every week since Sophie’s crash from a dear friend who wants us to know she is thinking of us and praying for us. Every week — for 41 weeks so far — she has gone out of her way to do this.

Please know that these kind acts have not gone unnoticed.

I’ve learned that it doesn’t always have to be a large act of service — the small ones help just as much. So, if you feel a nudge to help someone out, to offer a smile or a simple hello, follow through with it. You never know what difference it might make.

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” — Albert Einstein