Quick faith in humanity story.
While Kodak and I were out walking yesterday afternoon, we passed a man dressed in athletic gear, with both hands VERY full carrying sports drinks and a big basket chock-full of tennis balls.
We said hello and smiled as we walked by (believe me, Kodak smiles too) and after we were a few feet past, he called back, “Does he like tennis balls?”
I was tempted to say, “Does a bear $hit in the woods…” but I kept that to myself.
Instead I just said, “Yes!”
“Hang on a minute.”
All of a sudden this person we’ve never met or spoken to puts down everything he’s carrying and starts milling through this pile of dozens and dozens of tennis balls.
At first I almost said that we don’t need another ball…we have plenty. And I also didn’t know, if he wanted to give him one, why he didn’t just grab one from the top of the pile and toss it. But before I opened my mouth, this man starts talking – almost to himself – and says “Let me find him the best one.”
After digging a bit more, he says, “THIS ONE!” And tosses it to Kodak who, in the moment, is not exactly sure what to do and looks at me quizzically. I said thank you and the man tells me to wait.
“Hang on, let me find him another good one.”
He returns to digging. Tosses another one.
He returns to digging some more. Tosses a THIRD ball.
Kodak is still mildly conflicted but once I said he could go for it he is ecstatic and starts going from ball to ball to ball. The man and I both start laughing and I tell him that this made our day.
He brushed it off, said, “No problem,” picked up all his stuff again and wished me a good day.
Those tennis balls have already gotten some good wear and tear, and I’ve just been over here wondering…how many strangers do we pass throughout our day who could really use our “best,” whatever that may be in the moment?
Kodak would have been 1000% happy with ANY tennis ball that man gave him. But instead, this man – who apparently plays a lot of tennis – took time to stop and find him not one, not two, but THREE of what he thought were the best tennis balls in his basket. Even if they are all the same, he took time out of his day to put down the weight he was carrying and give a stranger his best. Even though the gift itself was for the stranger’s dog.
Y’all…it doesn’t take much. And it truly doesn’t matter who. Every person you meet/see/pass…is a human who is living a chapter of their story. It might be a good chapter, it might be a not so good chapter. Most of the time, you will never know what chapter they are in, as they are simply people in your peripheral as you go about your day.
Whatever chapter you happen to pass them in…meet them where they are, and give them your best in that moment.
Put down the weight you are carrying, and give a stranger your best.
I can promise you, they won’t forget it. And even if for a brief moment, it just might ease whatever they may be carrying too.
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