Have A Little Love in Your Heart

“I’m sorry. It’s not you. He just doesn’t like people.” It is an unfortunate apology I have had to issue on numerous occasions for my littlest turkey. He has a smile that will light up the world, but if you are lucky enough to get it… cherish that moment. Because he has a scowl that will run the devil out of Salem, and if you are unlucky enough to get it… then you’ve likely heard my apology.

This past weekend, for those of you unaware, there was a little festival going on locally. Sweet husband and I were riding in the parade, so we sent the turkeys to a birthday party and then the parade with Mammy and YaYa. [God bless them…] Upon their return, I asked how the parade went for them. And my mom began giving me the report…

[Side Note: If you know anything about my mom, there are few things that really bother her. Do not touch nasty, germy things in the sink. Do not rub snot on her (I mean…). Do not hover near her as she is perusing the grocery aisles. Do NOT interfere with her already secured parade vantage point. It’s not pretty, people…]

So, she says, “Well, we found our place, and just like always, some people came and plopped themselves right in front of us. (She is obviously annoyed…) And this is how Dominic chose to deal with it…”

She pulls out her phone. She is accessing her pictures. I am preparing myself for the worst. She has captured The Scowl on photographic record, and there will be no escaping it for all our days no matter the smiles that may proceed it! But it wasn’t what I was expecting. My sweet boy, who is often quite the feisty firecracker, had reached over and GRABBED THE LITTLE BOY’S HAND. And as the story goes, he held it for as long as the little boy would let him… There were tears. Many tears. I was so proud of my sweet, sweet boy.

Friends, sometimes, people get all up in our space. They do things we wish they wouldn’t. They annoy us. And maybe they are, in fact, at fault. But you know what? We could all do ourselves a whole lot of good to reach across the borders. To extend a hand of kindness. To be the bigger person.

This week, no matter who crosses your path, remember to be kind– to friends and strangers. If sweet turkey can do it, there surely is hope for us all…