Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.

Today I had to take Andy to see the pediatrician. I always cringe when we have to do this because he's still at the age where he absolutely hates any doctor of any sort and doesn't want to be poked or prodded with any kind of instrument, and admittedly he feels that way for good reason. It stresses me out but I love his pediatrician and ultimately know we have to go whether he wants to or not. He did pretty good this time, no screaming or crying or all out tantrums.

On our way out to the parking lot I decided to stop at the cafeteria they have at the hospital and get myself and Andy some lunch. I have a special spot in my heart for this cafe because Matthew and I practically lived there while Andy was in the NICU. We would have starved without it and had no where to hang out when we couldn't be in the NICU for the nurses' shift change.

Anyway, as I was waiting in line to pick up our sandwich Andy laid down on the floor and wouldn't move. He just laid there and refused to move. I was juggling a food tray and my purse (and not to mention my not so co-ordinated, big, pregnant body) and I tried to lift him up off the ground but he'd just get fussy and lay right back down. I was starting to get shaky from not eating all day and because he was stressing me out. Even with all the crowds of people there we were making a scene. I wasn't sure how I was going to get him through the cashier line and to a table and that's when a nice older gentlemen came up to me and asked if he could take my tray. He took it for me while I gathered Andy up off the ground and then waitied in line with us until we got to the cashier, at which point he pulled out his employee badge to get us a discount on the food. Then he walked us to a table and after we got situated he came back with a high chair for Andy. I thanked the man over and over but I really don't think he realized that it meant a lot to me. I'm not exactly sure how things would have worked out if he hadn't have helped. Andy was still fussy and two minutes into eating dumped his entire sandwich on the floor. The lady we were sitting next to helped us clean it up and said she understood because she had kids. We really needed to just get out of there. As we were leaving and putting the high chair back a different man offered to take it for us.

After thanking the man who stood in line with us again many times I realized that his kindness had made my day happier. He didn't have to help us but he took a few minutes out of his day to make mine substantially easier. I remember the day that we found out about Andy's heart condition. The drive home was horrible for me. I was crying so hard I couldn't see well. I was so stunned and hurt I was driving slowly. After not responding immediately to a green light the person in the car behind me honked and flipped me off. I wanted to get out of my car and ask them what kind of crisis they had just been handed, ask them to put things in perspective and treat fellow humans with compassion.

I truly believe that everyone is fighting their own battle and they way we treat them, even the smallest interactions, can negatively or positively impact their daily lives. It reminds me of that quote that goes something like "Be kind for eveyone is fighting their own battles." Today has been a good day so far and the strangers I've run into have been kind, and what better thing can a person be?

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”
-Mother Teresa

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." ~Dalai Lama