Random Acts of Kindness...

 

Spirit works in mysterious ways. (Crayon with dye)  

Yesterday, I had the privilege of picking up my daughter after school from the local bus stop which is just outside our local town centre.

When I was waiting for her to approach the car, I saw a young mother holding a young child on her hip and with other children surrounding her and following after her.

My daughter arrived into the car and we acknowledged each other but my eyes followed the young mum with 7 children that I counted with varying heights and ages.

As I pulled out of the parking lot, I followed her to the entrance of the shopping centre and she entered with her entourage. I then parked the car and thought to pick up a treat for my youngest as it was the last day of the term and she was entering the holidays for two weeks plus I hadn't started cooking yet.

I kept thinking about this mum and how difficult it must be to take care of seven children but upon walking into the shopping centre area, I had already lost site of her. I decided to go look for her as I had already purposed to put aside some monies for a church annual membership and decided to instead gift some of it to this mother.

I finally found her in line at the local fish and chip shop with the children all seated waiting for her to return. I then too fell in the same line (thinking to buy the same for my child) and then thought to ask her a question when she returned to the table with a tray of food. 

I thought she might think I'm weird, so I first excused myself and asked if these were all her children. She replied that the younger two of them were hers and the others were her sister's children. I then gave her a $ gift which she wouldn't take but I insisted and placed in her hand. I then said that I knew what it meant to be a mother and quickly left. I heard her reply 'thank you' as I acknowledged but she couldn't see me.

I clean forgot about the encounter as I returned to my daughter in the car with a treat and then returned home to continue with my studies. I'm not writing this to extol my virtues but more as a reminded to any who are interested to consider doing a random act of kindness.

It reminded me of my late father whom I watched when he gave $ gifts to complete strangers when they were celebrating a birthday and he walked and acknowledged the importance of the occasion. It wasn't so much the monetary value but the fact that someone was 'seen' and acknowledged with love by a complete stranger who asked for nothing in return except to have been a small part of that joy.

A possible challenge for any out there as I felt compelled (by the Spirit) to reach out to this mother not knowing what the circumstances were for her and the children in having compassion and even feeling a bit stupid for thinking that she might think that I was stalking her. 

However, the infinite joy and power that I felt in being able to gift her and the children to see that families were valued and especially with the high cost of living and economic climate. It's important to reach out and share what we can (for those who can) and to walk away expecting nothing in return...