One Small Thing, One Monumental Moment
There are so many small things we do throughout the day in our interactions with others that we hardly remember them.
But some of the things we do or say are very meaningful to the recipient.
Take Maria, for example.
She was a pretty 20-something redhead when in my class, but was now thirtyish when we passed in the entry to the Student Services Building.
She was back on campus to order transcripts. She stopped me to thank me for encouraging her when she was newly divorced and raising two children alone while trying to finish her degree.
I didn’t remember what I had said to her, but she had.
“You’re having a tough time right now, but don’t give up. Stick to your goals and you will succeed.”
My words were not magical, and I can’t take credit for her success. What’s important is that when she needed encouragement, my words helped her find it within herself.
Opportunities to be an encouragement, to lend a helping hand, or be kind are all around us. We often don’t know until later, if ever, the impact our words or actions made on another,
In a recent post on her popular blog, Dooce, Heather shared a must-read story by Kent Nerburn, titled The Cab Ride I’ll Never Forget. Kent begins
Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One time I arrived in the middle of the night for a pick up at a building that was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself.
Finish reading Ken’s story here and think about how a smile, opening a door, or going the long way could make a huge difference in someone’s life. There is an added bonus. When you help others you also make a positive difference in your own life.
After you read Ken’s story, come back and share your feelings and thoughts.
October 6th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
What an inspiring story! Thanks for sharing. It just shows how much we can help others by the encouraging words we say. We may not have felt that the words used were hardly anything new; but in your case, they were just what was needed by the recipient of your loving kindness.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Hi Evelyn,
It’s stories like this that keep me reminded of the power of our words.
I’m glad you found it inspiring.
Thanks for stopping by.