On Friday my little family and I ventured to our local mall, the Riverchase Galleria. I love our mall because there is so much for the kids to do. Usually there is a carousel in the middle of the food court but it was under construction so my boys enjoyed a train ride around the mall instead. We went to the mall to have some family time and to shop for outfits for my little ones Valentine's Day pictures on Saturday. We planned to eat dinner at the mall and soon after the train ride we headed towards the food court. We found a table big enough for our family of four and our double stroller and Daddy went to get Happy Meals for two hungry boys. Usually Mr. Independent Walker wants to sit like a big boy but this day he wanted to be like his baby brother and sit in a high chair. I snagged two high chairs and brought them to our table. I put Wyatt in his high chair and as I made my way across the table I caught the eye of a young father carrying his son who looked just a little younger than Wyatt. He smiled at me and I politely smiled back. It was one of those comforting parent to parent smiles that seem to say, "I feel ya, kid."
I put Walker in his high chair and sat between my two boys listening to them giggle back and forth and began to people watch - my favorite pastime at the mall. I saw the man's wife walk back to their table, Happy Meals in hand, and I saw them both looking around for something. I realized they were looking for a high chair. I also realized they had another son that looked to be about the same age as Walker. I looked around the food court hoping I could spot a high chair they had missed. There were none. It looks like I had the only two high chairs in the entire food court. I whispered to Walker, "See that little boy over there? He is a little boy just like brother. He needs a high chair. Can we give him yours?" Walker refused. I tried another tactic, "Walker you are SUCH a big boy. Don't you want to sit in a BIG boy chair like a BIG boy?!" Walker is too smart for this momma and he saw through my flattery. "Okay, mommy. We can give him my chair." I told Walker how nice he was for giving his chair to the little boy and how that made me very happy. I moved him to his big boy chair and I took them his high chair.
I realize this is a small act of kindness but that's what it's about, right? Kindness does not always have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes the best way to show kindness is in every day life. Daddy returned with Happy Meals and my boys went to work eating. About ten minutes later Walker says, "Mommy, is Jesus watching me?" I told him that Jesus is watching him, and me, and everyone and how happy he made Jesus by sharing his seat with the little boy. This act of kindness became a teachable moment and for that I am thankful.
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