A Small Act of Kindness Goes a Long Way
The holiday shopping season is days away — literally — and the thought of my favorite stores becoming nothing short of war zones make me cringe. Yet, today I saw something that gave me hope. In having breakfast with some friends this morning, we went to a local restaurant that had quite a line waiting for a table. In fact, the entry was extremely crowded and people were standing in the entry (in an attempt to get out of the cold bitter wind blowing outside) packed in as tightly as a subway during morning rush hour. A couple entered, they were elderly — I’m guessing late eighties and joined the crowd standing. I saw a family with school age children sitting on the single bench. A little boy of approximately 8 or 9 was looking at the couple with big blue eyes. Suddenly, he jumped up and pulled his younger sister off the bench as well and offered the couple their seats. It was truly a moment of selfless, uncoached kindness that touched my heart. The family these two children came from had 6 young children, this boy being the oldest. His parents had been wrestling with the younger children on their laps and hadn’t really noticed what was going on until the couple sat next to them, smiling and thanking the generosity of the young man and his sister.
I find myself still smiling as I remember the moment and I find myself increasingly grateful to the child for his actions and to his parents for caring enough to teach compassion. While other patrons seemed to notice the gesture initially, it was quickly dismissed because of their own discomfort with the wait. I, on the other hand, chose to reward the child and his family by paying their ticket at the same time I paid mine — and adding to it an entire pie “to go” with a note of thanks to the young man for displaying such unselfish thoughtfulness. Such big acts of kindness at such a young age should be rewarded — don’t you think?
I agree 100% and can only strive that my own child/children and are able to feel and show such compassion and selflessness as the youngsters that you witnessed. Sorry to say that is the problem with this world today people have forgotten about the human tribe and become so egocentric and selfish to the point that all sorts of inappropriate actions are vied as the norm. But as the saying goes change starts at home. Thank you for sharing a moment of brightness in this all too dark world.
Ah, thank you for recounting the actions of a youngster that evidently has the makings of a fine gentleman! Yes, let’s try to forget our own relatively small and minor discomforts, and learn from this lovely child by doing what we know in our hearts to be true and right. That is to help our fellow human beings, those in need of a little extra kindness and consideration. Congratulations to the parents for raising such a generous hearted child, and to the writer of the article who chose to graciously recognise and reward his gallantry!