See Kindness

Today I have seen so many things. I have read articles, I have watched press conferences, I have been shown facts and figures. There are bans and warnings, there are closures and cancellations. Life as we know it is gradually coming to a screeching halt. And that’s a lot to see.

Today, I went to the grocery store where I was met by an already packed lot and a line to get in that spanned the length of the shopping center. Somewhat reluctantly, I parked and took my place to wait.

The store was allowing people in, ten at a time, as other shoppers would leave. I was there waiting my turn. I saw the people on their phones, I saw them with lists and reusable shopping bags. I watched as people drove into the lot and joined us. I took note of the young man counting people leaving and letting us know when it was our turn to go in.

And we waited. Waited in line to get groceries.

Finally, I was getting close to the front. I had been waiting for over 30 minutes and I knew it would be my turn in the next wave of people. 

And that’s when the man walked up. He walked right up to the entrance ready to go into the store. He hadn’t noticed the line to get in as it was somewhat hidden by the cart return. He didn’t see the impending 30 minute or more wait time just to get in. He was not aware of the 100 or more people who would get into the store before he would.

But I saw him. I saw the styrofoam Whataburger cup he was holding, which I just imagined was his morning coffee he was about to finish. I noticed his white hair, clean cut, coming out from underneath his ball cap. I couldn’t make out all what was on the front of the cap, but I could tell it was one of the veterans caps with the branch of service they were once enlisted. He had a slight hunch in his back and he barely lifted his feet when he walked. 

I saw when the young man working the door said what I assumed was, “yes this is the line, and yes, it starts back there.”

I couldn’t believe it. The man was going to have to walk past all of us, the length of the shopping center, to take his place in line. I was thinking, well he can just get in line ahead of me! Then I realized, that would be cutting in front of all of these other people. Then I thought, I will just give him my place and I will start back at the back.

But that’s when the young man knew better. That’s when he waved the man into the store. And I watched the man shuffle in, cup in hand, to do his shopping.

And no one said a word.

That’s right, we all saw it. We all saw the man walk in before we did. 

I almost cried right there in the line to get into the grocery store. I know this is small, and I know this is what will help us the most. Just being kind. Being kind in simple ways that can make a big difference. 

The truth is we can all be kind. We can be kind while we wait, we can be kind when we are anxious, we can be kind when our futures seem so uncertain.

Of everything I saw today, there is only one thing that is really worth telling you about. One thing I think everyone should know. Today I saw kindness. I hope and pray you show it and see it too!