Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The Watch

I had an entire post written out about my day.

It was a hard day.

A tiring day.

A day where I just want a glass of wine, a warm blanket, and peace. Even for only 10 minutes and I would be happy.

However, while writing that post, I started writing a sentence and it hit me.

Write about that, is what my heart told me to do.....

Today Isabella had to get a flu shot, bloodwork drawn, and her one year checkup.

As we were waiting for her flu shot and she was all sticky, slobbery from the sucker they gave her at the Lab, she fell.

And hard.

She was sobbing uncontrollably.

She was crying so hard it hurt me to hear.

I held her and rocked her until she calmed down.

She was looking around and peeking at all of the elderly people around us.

They would talk to her, she would give a shy smile and turn around to act like she wasn't actually peeking at them.

It was around this time that she noticed him.

An older man.

Right next to us.

He had a beautiful watch on--that's what caught her eye to him (I think).

She reached out with one little finger to touch the metal.

I apologized to him and moved her hand away.

We were sitting for awhile longer and I would look down to her.

She was peeking at him every few moments. I turned my eyes casually to see if he noticed.

He did.

I caught him giving her a grandfatherly wink.

She grinned up at him with her toothy smile, dried tears on her cheeks.

He gave her a smile back.

He then reached out his arm with the watch her way.

She touched it sweetly, grinned at him and he grinned back.

It was there at that moment that I felt compassion for this man.

He was a veteran, retired from the US military and had a kinder heart than most people that I have encountered whom I did not know on some sort of personal level.

He made her day by reaching out to her.

And in a way he reached out to me, too.

I don't think I will ever forget his face, his wink, that watch.

And I want to thank him.

Thank you for serving our country.

Thank you for having a kind heart.

And thank you for reaching out to us.

You have truly touched me.

18 comments:

Susan said...

Beautiful!
I love how children are able to open lines of communication that might otherwise be closed. They help us notice the simple, the forgotten, the needed and all without judgment. If only we could see through their eyes all the time.

Leslie said...

That was a beautiful post. And I so agree with Susan. I wish we could look at the world the way that children do.

Tyne said...

Cry. How wonderful, what a sweet post. What a blessing that man was, thanks for sharing with us.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

How sweet! What a nice man and a little glimpse of some humanity still left.

amanda said...

honey i love this post!!

beans too has made these kinds of connections lately. just yesterday at the doctors she was waving and blowing kisses to this older lady in a wheel chair. she smiled and waved back multiple times and my heart just melted.

so beautiful!

A Crafty Mom said...

What a sweet thing to write about, and what a great thing to have happen to you guys today. Sounds like a special man, indeed.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful story! It is soo important to remember what one kind smile, one kind word, action can do a world of difference for someone. I think it is important to remember patience and love, especially when we are having a bad day. It is so easy to get frustrated with the check out girl, the other person on the end of customer service, or the car in front of us. We make the difference of someone having a really bad day or making a little bit of good, being the bright spot in someone's day! Kinda like you did when you visited my blog and left me some words of kindness! Thanks so much! I have enjoyed reading your blog and I'm going to add you! Thanks so much!!

Jamy said...

I honestly have no idea how I found your blog, but I'm glad I did! I was sucked into that post from about the second sentence. Which is a big deal. Usually I see a lenghty post (even if it's just separated by spaces) and am too lazy to read it. But that was so elegantly written! I loved it! Off to read more!

Jill and Rick said...

So sweet. I know that Bella touched his heart just as he touched yours. Love you guys.

Carol said...

Goosebumps!

What a beautiful experience.

Jennifer said...

Wow, Sound like my grandfather:)

Clare said...

great post! i am sorry you had a long day, what a special thing to remember when you are feeling tired and just want to vent:)

Danielle (Life with the Hewitt Family) said...

What a wonderful post. I bet Bella made his day too!

Jenny said...

what a great moment...there is just something special about a grandfather figure and a baby...it is like this connection they have. babies just sense that they have been through so much and older people just have the kindest hearts...i so know what you mean.

Kristen said...

That is just the best story ever!!

You just totally touched my heart with that one.

So glad that your heart was touched too! :)

gina said...

What a beautiful post.

Laural Out Loud said...

Sometimes all it takes is a look or a wink to make a special moment. Makes me want to smile more often, just in case it helps someone's day!

Kelli @ writing the waves said...

This was beautifully written. I have tears in my eyes. I love those "grandfatherly winks" at my kids when we are out and about. Little children can connect so easily with other people...even strangers. It's just awesome.