kindness from a stranger

 A few weeks back -on a day that wasn’t my best, Hazel and I were walking the mall because it was all I could do to keep her to stop fussing. We were walking the mall and minding our own business, seeing the dogs, watching all the people -you know, normal people watching mall walker stuff. When an elderly gentleman stopped me…

“Can you do me a favor?” He asked excitedly.

“Sure!” I somewhat hesitantly responded.

“Use this money to buy your baby something nice.” He handed me $20, smiled, and walked away. 

“Really?!” I surprisingly asked. “Are you sure? Thank you!”

He walked away nodding and I watched as he got smaller in the distance, wondering if that had just really happened. Did that sweet old man really just give me $20 to spend on my sweet Hazel? It was like he was some sort of angel, like he knew I was having a rough time.  And then it got me to thinking and hoping that one day I would be able to do something of this grandeur for a mother with a rough morning. How I hoped I would be able to know how to put that sparkle back into someone’s day.

Sometimes elderly people really understand what’s going on. And this man, this sweet, sweet man reminded me that we are all here on earth to help each other, to be there for each other when we need help. 

Because this experience was so very sweet I couldn’t bring myself to spending the money on just anything. It was about a week before I used it though, I bought Hazel a fall outfit -one I wouldn’t have been able to do so, and one that will always be remembered as the kindness outfit. And I’m still looking for a “kindness” book of sorts, just as a sweet memento. 

I’m grateful for that sweet old man, he lit up my day. 

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