Random Acts of Kindness

The whole family was unexpectedly spending long hours at the hospital, all over-stressed and tired, and I had the added fun of a new toddler fascinated by the unfamiliar surroundings and blissfully unaware of why everyone was not interested in playing.

He was getting squirrely in g-ma's room, so I took him out to the waiting room to give everyone a break. There I encountered a stranger with a boy about four years old. I am guessing she could see how difficult my day was going, and she took out of her purse a little matchbox car and drove it over to my son, who was immediately impressed and remained occupied for quite awhile.

When we were getting up to go back to g-ma, I tried to return the car, but she said to keep it, noting my son seemed to like it, and hers wouldn't notice it was gone. To this day, that remains one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.

We did keep that car, and my son played with it for the next few days, until we no longer needed to be at the hospital, and then, it kept him busy during the process of family meetings and funeral arrangements.

To this day, I keep a matchbox car in my purse for just such occasions, and you would be surprised how often I have had occasion to offer the same kindness that was offered me that day.

My now almost-10 year old doesn't play with matchbox cars much anymore, but we still have a box full of them. I keep them in my closet, ready to add another one to my purse.

Whenever I get the chance, I tell the story of why I have a car in my purse to the harried, tired, and often frustrated mom after I drive that matchbox across the table, or floor, or church pew, to their child, a way of offering adult conversation, as well as honoring that random stranger in Sioux Falls almost a decade ago, who changed my day, and my life, through a random act of kindness.