Have you ever been at a restaurant or grocery store with a crying or tantrumming child? It’s awful, that feeling of everyone staring at you and blaming you for somehow disrupting their lives. Not to mention, the criticism and judgment! Some people are only too eager to point out just what you are doing wrong and how you shouldn’t be out in public if you can’t control your children. But, sometimes, a stranger reaches out and helps– offers to amuse the baby, gives you a wink of encouragement, tells you they’ve been there, too, and that things will get better. That little act of kindness makes all the difference.
We can’t control whether we will run into the kind sort of stranger when we are most overwhelmed. But, we can remember what it was like when someone was kind when we were overwrought and BE that kind stranger to someone struggling. When we remember what a difference that type of kindness made in our lives, we realize that simple things–holding a door for someone carrying packages, smiling when someone is overwhelmed with their kids, offering to help pick up fallen papers– matter tremendously.
From Shari:
Have you ever been the beneficiary of a stranger’s kindness? Can you think of a time when you reached out in kindness to someone else? Please share your stories in the comments. I would love to hear them!
QuotableCreek.com 
Hello all, my dad, John Squire, and I used to go fishing in the Sea of Cortez. We would start our trips in San Felipe, Mexico and travel south in the sea to fish all week long. One of our brief stops would include a fishing village about 150 miles south of San Felipe. Prior to our trips, my dad would hit local garage sales each weekend and gather clothing at bargain prices. He loved to get a pair of jeans for a quarter and a t-shirt for a dime. When we anchored off shore from the fishing village, the residents would come out in their small pangas and meet our big boat. My dad would hand out clothing for them and you would have thought he was showering them with golden treasures. The villagers loved him and the men who worked on the boat thought he was pretty awesome too, as they would also share in his bounty. It was a great lesson for me as a son and a great lesson in humanity from my Pop. He died in January 2012 and I miss him every day, but remembering things like this help me to be proud I am his son. Thank you Shari for your act of kindness in kindling this reply 🙂
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What a wonderful story, Matt! I love how you had such a tender kind moment to share and look forward to with your dad each year. You are definitely your father’s son!💕
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Thanks Shari!
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