One evening this week the boys and I were out for a fancy (okay, really it was fast food) dinner. There was a mother in front of us in line. Her husband was seated across the restaurant with their two young children. She ordered their food and then was waiting for it.
When their food was ready it filled two trays. As she turned around to carry them to the table, a container of dipping sauce fell off. She looked at it briefly and I heard her say to herself, "I'll come back for that." She then carried the food off to their table, planning to return for the sauce.
The four-year-old and I both saw the sauce fall. We made eye contact and I said to him, "You could take that to her." He eagerly did just that, running over, setting it down on the table and then quickly departing nearly before she realized what he had done. But I, from across the room, could see the gratitude on the face of a woman with two small children whose fast food experience I could relate to.
I was reminded right then that small kindnesses matter. It would have been so easy to not even notice what she had dropped. It would have been easy to not even respond. But I'm glad we did notice and I'm glad we did respond.
I'm glad my children have been on both the giving and receiving end of small kindnesses. I hope I keep remembering how important they are.
What's your Bigger Picture moment from the week? Go on over to Maegan's and share your story by linking up.
8 comments:
how lovely, and what great lessons in kindness you are teaching your little ones. It's the little things that sometimes make the biggest differences in someone's day
I love it! I have been that mom more times than I can count, and I can tell you that the litte kindnesses can change the trajectory of the day, they are that powerful. :)
a very sweet story.
I wish more parents saw the importance in small kindnesses like that! I like to give out compliments to people, and just yesterday someone complimented me on my shoes. Never underestimate what small things like that mean to people!
It's all the little things that add up to one big different (or bigger picture as it were) and I'm really enjoying seeing that in everyone's posts each week. I was just thinking earlier about whether I make enough of an effort to teach my children kindess. I'm not sure I do, and this reminds me to make it a prioirty. This is a sweet and important story, thanks for sharing.
Those small moments and kindnesses make such a big difference. What a good teaching moment!
What a beautiful thing that happened at your "fancy" dinner! You are so right...those little random acts of kindness can without a doubt make this world a better place! Thanks for the reminder!
Sometimes it's definitely those small kindness that actually turn around an entire day. There is such importance in showing the world Jesus through tiny acts of love, just as your little one did. Wonderful BPM!
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