She was probably about ten years old, not someone you’d notice. She was a little stranger who entered our lives for a brief few minutes, tied a shoelace, and showed me how powerful a small act of kindness can be.
This is a story about a seemingly insignificant incident, but it shows how a small gesture can have a big impact on the recipient. We never know. Those who have been caretakers for years may readily relate to this.
My husband had been in poor health for years and was not motivated to get out of the house, so when the battery in his watch died, I seized on it as an excuse to take him to the mall.
As we entered the mall, he asked if there was a men’s room. We had to wait a short time at the jewelers, so we went back out into the main mall to see if we were close to the restrooms. Fortunately, we were. I went back to the jewelry store, telling the lone jeweler I’d be right back, and walked my husband to the entrance of the 40-foot-long hallway.
Pointing, I told Tom that somewhere down there was a men’s room, and I’d be right in the same spot when he returned. He started his long, slow journey down the hallway. I went back and forth between the jeweler and my spot in the hallway several times so Tom could see me as he returned.
I wasn’t paying attention to the crowds walking near us as I was very concerned about my husband, perhaps having a hard time finding his way back to me. I was in my all too often state of concern and anxiety
I felt relief as I saw him approaching. About twenty feet away from me, our eyes met as he raised one of his shoes and pointed to it. I nodded. My complete concentration was on Tom, and I’d blocked out everything around us. When my husband was about ten feet away, I heard a young voice say, “Can I tie your shoelace?”
I was startled by the voice and looked down to see two ten-year-old girls who had passed by us, but must have looked down the long hallway and seen Tom pointing to his shoe. As he came closer, the girl repeated, “Would you like me to tie your shoelace?” I was startled. I thanked her and said that we would love to have her help. Tom smiled as he realized the young girl would help him. He didn’t smile much anymore, but now I saw happiness on his face, something I hadn’t seen in too long a time.
Grinning broadly, he stopped, and she knelt down to tie his shoelace. I was surprised at my emotions. I’d been taking care of my husband all alone for so many years. Our lives had become isolated. I couldn’t express my gratitude adequately to this young girl. While she was still kneeling, doing her good deed, I said, “You must be a Girl Scout”. While continuing her task, she responded, “Yes, I am”. I added, “Thank you so very much. You are wonderful to do this.”
She tied the lace, smiled at both of us, and with her friend turned to continue their walk past the bustling stores. She turned back after a few steps, smiled again at us, and said, “Have a pleasant day.” It all happened so quickly, almost as if it were choreographed. She came into our lives, bestowed her kindness, and was gone, all within two minutes.
Tom looked at me, grinning widely, and I took his hand to lead him back to the jeweler. In her youth, this nameless young girl had no conception of the impact of that simple gesture: stopping in her tracks, then waiting patiently for a very old, slow-walking man, the age her great-grandfather would be.
At four the following morning, I awoke for no apparent reason, a warm feeling of love enveloping me. As an overwhelmed caretaker, I had been reminded by a little 10-year-old girl’s simple, kind gesture that I was not alone. She will never know the impact she made.
In the still, early morning comforting darkness, I blindly reached for a tissue to wipe away my tears. Twenty-two days later, my husband passed away.
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If you are considering adoption of just want more insight into the process, please read Barbara Blomquist’s Insight Into Adoption
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