I saw a beautiful thing this weekend. A woman sat down next to me at the bar of a busy neighborhood restaurant. It was lunchtime on a rainy Saturday – just an ordinary moment in an ordinary day – not a time you expect to witness magic.
Leaning conspiratorially forward, she beckoned furtively to the waitress and asked to pay for the meal of another customer. Many months ago, the woman had helped her, a complete stranger, in a difficult moment. This was her opportunity to give back. The bill was paid with a smile, and she quickly left asking the waitress to deliver her gratitude.
Gratitude. How often do we express our gratitude to those who have helped us in ways big and small? How often do we feel appreciated for what we have offered? As mothers we experience both a bounty of giving and receiving help. Saying thank you is important, yes, but I find myself musing on the different ways we can experience and express gratitude.
Remember the random acts of kindness movement that began emerged in the 90’s? Suddenly tolls were being paid for by the car ahead, and flowers gifted on street corners. Perhaps we can extend the idea to include random acts of gratitude.
Whether it was a moment that occurred two decades ago or support you received yesterday, why not reach out with a simple gift of gratitude? Envision a world with more thank you cards, more mysterious flower deliveries, more bundles of cookies on our doorsteps….
Consider this our Mama Renew nudge to reach out,
say thank you, bring kindness into our world,
and share gratitude in new and unexpected ways.
I got lost recently. Wandering on a university campus and trying to find my way, I asked first one, then two, then three passersby for directions. Not one of them could help. Discouraged, I gave up on asking, somehow believing that if they couldn’t help me then nobody could.
© 2009 Mothering Magazine