A Story of Holiday Kindness #RAoK #NaBloPoMo

Nov 18: Tell us about one time that you benefitted from the kindness of strangers.

It was two Christmases ago, I was with my babies shopping at Target.  The holiday spirit was dampened by the devastating news out of Connecticut.  In spite of that horrific situation, I was trying to remain jubilant.  We strolled down the Holiday aisles of Target, seeing the kids smile and get excited for Santa’s visit was SO uplifting, to me.  I needed it.

While we were there, at Target, looking at all the Christmas decorations, I saw a boot.  Not, like a boot, boot, but a mug-like boot.  I picked it up and showed the kids.  The kids and I had been on the lookout for a boot for St. Nicholas day.

Out of nowhere this sweet older woman with a Sox jacket came up to me, and asked me about the boot.  I told her how my girls both have boots for St. Nicholas day, but my son did not have one.  He was using a shoe for St. Nicholas day, while the girls both had pretty ceramic boots to set out for St. Nick each year. I was debating if I should get this plastic mug boot because it wasn’t as nice as the girls.  The lady smiled and said you should get him the boot.  🙂

She kept looking at the babies with such endearing eyes.  She made small talk with the kiddos and then we wished each other a good day.  I thought that was it, but then she found us, she came up to me and said Merry Christmas, buy something for the babies, and put money in MY pocket!

(I’m crying now thinking about that day.)  I remember feeling so thankful for that.  The spirit of the holidays was there in that sweet woman.  I needed that.  Not the money, but I needed to know people were good.  I needed my kids to know the same.  The littles asked half jokingly, “What if she is Mrs. Claus?”  At that moment she was.  This woman gave me a present, she restored my faith in humanity if just for a few.  I had been crying myself to sleep those days thinking of the families who wouldn’t have the holidays with their babies or loved ones.

Needless to say, I went back to the plastic Santa boot mug, and purchased it for my boy.  It may not be as fancy as my girls ceramic boots but it has such a lovely story behind it, I had to have it.

Have you ever had a stranger do something kind for you?