The Kindness of Strangers

This weekend has made me think a lot about the kindness of strangers, and how even the littlest comments can make a huge difference in how someone feels. (I know this is a lesson we all know, but I didn't want to forget these moments.)

The first kind comment was from a stranger to Tyler on Friday night. I'm not sure if he's okay with me sharing his experience (and since he has already gone to bed), for now I will just give general details. Friday night, a man (someone neither of us knew) turned to Tyler and gave him a very simple, but sweet compliment. Tyler's evening was instantly improved one hundred-fold, and helped him to feel like the efforts and things he was trying to do were worthwhile.

The second kind comment came this morning as Tyler and I walked to church (which is a block away from our house). We were about a hundred feet from our church building when a woman in a car pulled over to tell us how nice we looked as we walked to church together. Though it was hard for me to hear what she was saying, I got the general impression of what she was saying. I think she appreciated the idea of a young married couple walking to church together. The experience only lasted a few moments, but some of us (namely me) were feeling pretty groggy and barely put together (8:30 church is killer!). The fact that she would take the time to pull over and compliment us really meant a lot to me, and it helped put me in a better mood for church.

The third kind comment happened at church today. There was a lady standing in the foyer holding her little boy (who must have been only about a year or so old) who came up to me and told me I looked wonderful, then walked away. Something about how she said it gave me the impression that she was referring to my pregnancy (not just complimenting me in general). I've never spoken to her before, or even seen her, but her comment made me feel really good. Like I said, 8:30 church is (really really) hard for me, and I struggle with feeling like I'm at my "Sunday best" when I'm attending our ward. (Plus, they keep that building very warm, so I feel uncomfortable throughout almost the entire time I'm at church. Usually by the time Relief Society hits, the AC has been on long enough to make the Relief Society room a comfortable temperature.)

Anyway, I know we all know that kind words can give someone a measure of strength when they need it, or that simple, kind words can really improve someone's mood. When those compliments were given, I didn't even know that I needed some uplifting, but I immediately felt better once those things had been said.

So thank you to those kind strangers, for helping both Tyler and me to feel (and be) just a little better than we were.