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Yesterday, I was cross. Irritated by urban life, the tumultuous changes in Spring weather and my own crotchety self. Brown magnolia blossoms. Loud vibrating, fast driving cars. Enormous potholes. Trash strewn everywhere. Crying babies unattended. And no grocery employee had brought hanging Boston fern baskets inside away from the cold snowy April weather. Now, after a tender beginning in a warm greenhouse, they were burned and frozen. Disposable. Rubbish. Life in the 21st century.
Today I made another trip, to another grocery store to purchase salmon. I was standing at the fish and meat counter waiting my turn. A woman was there with a child about seven or eight years old. He stood quietly handling bottles of tartar sauce displayed near the case, as if he were rearranging them. He had such a sweet expression and a beautiful smile. I told the woman that I loved his gentle countenance. She said, “He’s going to come over and hug you”, which is exactly what happened. He put his face into my butterfly scarf and nestled down against my chest.
“Do you like those butterflies?” I asked him. He nodded. “I wore this scarf today to help Spring come,” I continued. He returned to the woman. We chatted, and before we parted, the boy came once again. Another hug. Another chance to connect. This time he tried to feel the hair on my head. The woman discouraged him. “That’s fine,” I said. I explained that I used to be a teacher, and often children wanted to touch each other’s hair, especially if it was different from their own.
Once again, he nestled his face into the scarf. His small hands grasped the soft cotton. I hugged him and held on tight before we said goodbye. I thanked him for the hug.
What was that sweet encounter? Did the child need Spring as much as I did, and we had found each other, just in the knick of time? Or was he simply a teacher, a helper to me? The return of kindness, gentleness, new life, hope stirred within me... a reminder to see beyond racial and cultural differences, economic status and education, history. He reminded me of my value, even as I am in transition, betwixt and between. I saw right through to his lovely heart, and he recognized me. We found Spring together for a few brief moments at the grocery store. An answered prayer after my embittered yesterday. “God change me. Soften my eyes so that I can see what you see,” I had prayed last night. Here was the answer.
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