“Can I help you with something?” asked someone. The stranger’s voice made me turn and attempt to stop crying. I looked over to see an older gentleman looking at the same wall of boxes that I was. He had the kindest blue eyes. “I’m sorry,” I said. “Do you work here?” He looked at me and smiled. “No, but you look like you could a helping hand.”
I can’t imagine what gave that away. I was crying in the middle of an aisle at Home Depot, trying desperately to find what I needed to safely anchor my daughter’s bookshelf and dresser to the wall in her new room of the home we had just bought. I was trying hard not to let the tears and snot flow too freely down my face. My daughter was a screaming mess in the cart. She had probably had enough of the home improvement store as it felt like we lived there for the first couple of months after we purchased our house. I could not find anything that I had on my list, and I was trying so hard to keep it together.
My breakdown probably was a culmination of lack of sleep, stress about trying to complete projects in our new home, not being able to find what I needed, and being frustrated with my daughter. I am sure I said some not nice things to my toddler while I was standing in that aisle.
I finally eeked out, “Yeah, I’m trying to find something to secure my daughter’s furniture to the wall,” I told the man between tears. “Well, that sounds like a very safe thing to do for someone so cute who I’m sure you love so much,” he said. “Let’s see what we can find!” He smiled at my daughter enough to make her stop screaming for ten seconds. He helped me choose what I needed and asked if there was anything else he could help me find.
“That’s okay, “ I said. “You don’t even work here, and I don’t want to take up anymore of your time.”
“No worries,” he said. “Let’s get some more items crossed off your list so your daughter can get home and play!”
I was dumbfounded as we walked through the store, and he helped me find what I needed with ease. Along the way, he played peek-a-boo with my daughter and talked her out of the fit she was having. I did not need to ask if he had kids or grandkids. It was quite obvious he was experienced in this parenting thing.
As I crossed the remaining items off my list, I turned to him to say thank you. “You truly have no idea how your kindness has helped me,” I told him. He smiled and said, “Hang in there. You’re doing a great job. I know it’s cliché, but they really do grow up fast.”
I wanted to hug him, but I thanked him again for his help and went to pay for my items. On the way home, my daughter asked, “That man helped us?” I said, “Yes, mommy really needed him today.” So, thank you, kind stranger, at Home Depot. I really did need you that day.
As I mull over this day in my mind, I am reminded that this man did not do anything difficult. He simply saw someone in need and helped. His kindness was free and it was not too time-consuming. Now I try to be mindful of this myself if I am out and see a struggling person trying to get a stroller through a door or trying to get his or her kids to listen or if I see a mom having a breakdown herself. Kind gestures such as opening doors or kind words to strangers are much needed.
