Yesterday I received a call from a complete stranger. It's rare that I would answer a call from an unknown number, because it's 2016 and people don't do that, but she'd left a voicemail previously so I was expecting the call.
The caller was a woman who had sat by my husband and the two younger boys at Christmas Mass at my in-laws' church. She was just calling to tell me how she enjoyed sitting by them and was pleased that the kids were good at Mass.
Our kids actually are pretty good at Mass, all things considered. We take them to Mass often so they know what to expect.
What astounded me, though, was not the thought that some stranger thinks my kids are perfect angels (they're not) but that she'd put forth the effort to actually call and tell me so. She briefly chatted with them after Mass, but then sought out my mother-in-law to get my number and called several times until I answered.
People do not make this type of effort to reach out to strangers these days. What a joy it was to visit with her!
Our culture is quick to make a Facebook post about some minor offense, like a parking lot door ding or Target dollar zone spat, spread like wildfire. But how often are we loving people by seeking them out with kindness? I know I don't do it too often.
Sue has certainly inspired me to make an effort to reach out to people more thoughtfully. I'm grateful for a stranger to be so kind to my children and to me.
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