A few days ago I needed to catch a train, which has been an unusual occurrence since the pandemic started.
As I was walking towards the train station, I saw a young man holding a bouquet of flowers. I jokingly said ‘you’re so kind, thank you for my flowers’. We both laughed. He said ‘good morning and God bless’. And we both kept going our separate ways.
I made it to the train station a few minutes later, only to see the same young man approaching. Apparently, he’d been looking for the train station but it wasn’t an area he was familiar with. I joked with him again saying he must be following me so he could give me the flowers. He actually explained that he was going to visit the gravesite of his grandparents and was taking flowers. He even offered to give me one. I declined, but offered to pray with him as he explained he’d been having a hard time lately.
When my train came, it turns out he needed to get on that train as well. He needed to go west to catch the right train that was going to take him back to his destination out east. I suggested he sit with me for the ride.
That morning as I was preparing to go meet my friend, she’d asked me to bring one of my books for her. I had the distinct thought that I should carry two, as a just in case. After my now deeper conversation with this young man, I knew this second book was for him. I asked his name, wrote a few words of encouragement and gave it to him.
He explained to me that I had changed the course of his morning, then said ‘not just my morning, but my entire day’. He then offered to give me the bouquet he had, saying he could purchase another. I laughed and declined again.
I felt so humbled.
I did not know that a joke about me getting his flowers, and the ensuing conversation could have lead to the outcome it did.
Friends, let us be kind to those we meet. We never know the struggles of those we see on the street and what people are going through. Just a smile, a joke and a kind word can make all the difference. I pray I remember that, no matter what I’m going through myself.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that there are no chance meetings. Thank you for the ways that you continue to show up for us, in ways that we least expect it. Thank you for the reminder of how one small kind gesture can change the course of someone’s day and serve to encourage each other.
