Around the anniversary of my grandmother's passing, my mother (her daughter) won tickets to an early premiere of "Despicable Me 2" and my son couldn't wait to attend it with his grandfather. It was held in Boston and the theater was packed. A mother and daughter sitting behind my son asked him if he wouldn't mind watching their seats while they went to the bathroom before the movie began. He said "of course" and they returned a short time later. They thanked him profusely and the mother handed him a dollar bill and a mini Twix bar in exchange for his assistance. What they didn't know was that this is what my grandmother would give him every time he visited her. Although my son didn't want to accept their generous reward (he was happy to do it), they insisted and he smiled knowing that Nani Jay was sending her love to him. It immediately reminded him of her, without any prompting from an adult. He couldn't wait to come home and share the story that Nani Jay said hello. It brightened our families hearts and reassured us that she is looking after us.
What my son didn't readily share, however, was the fact that he gave that same dollar bill to a gentleman asking for change sitting outside of the theater. "He needs it more than me, Bee," he told his grandfather as he walked past assuredly. Thus, the circle of kindness and good deeds continues, adding a ray of light to what was just a typical day.
Never take for granted a small act of kindness or a quick conversation with a stranger. Messages lie in wait around every corner if you are open to receiving them. Whether they assure you that you are on the right path, not alone, or that better days are coming, remains to be seen. It is up to you to find the meaning. Don't be too busy to notice or too skeptical to accept them. Days can get pretty dark sometimes. Momentary connections like these add meaning to life and make all the difference.
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