My daughters and I recently made a last minute lunch run to one of our favorite restaurants, Chipotle. I love when we can squeeze in time together like this, and it was especially enjoyable since the grandkids came, too!
After we sat down to eat, several fire fighters walked into the restaurant and stood in line to order their food. Camden, our oldest grandson who is four, walked right up to the firefighters, and shook their hands. They were so gracious to respond to him very kindly. They stooped to his level, asked questions, and gave him and Delanie fireman stickers. One firefighter even offered to show him the fire trucks after his meal!
Well, we completed our meal and without wanting to bother the men as they ate, slipped out quietly. But, three of the firemen followed us out of the restaurant and fulfilled their offer to show the kids the fire truck. This might seem like a small thing to you or me, but to Camden and Delanie it was an act of heroism! It truly made their day. They laughed and talked about it for a long time.
As I reflected on the kindness of those firemen that day, I thought about how easy it is for me to go through my day without stopping to show kindness to those around me. I was reminded of three truths from our experience with these public servants:
- They were kind to those who could offer nothing in return.
- They sacrificed time with others to show kindness.
- Their small act made a big difference in the lives of the recipients.
Who can you encourage today? Are you willing to bless someone who can offer you nothing in return? Are you willing to give just a few minutes to go the extra mile to make someone’s day? You never know what a big difference your act of kindness can make in the life of someone else!