As we move our way through life, it’s important to remember that moments tend to pass us by very quickly. When you have the opportunity to do something nice for someone, therefore, you should never pass up the chance to do it.
This type of kindness may be random but it is available often and the more we do it, the bigger of an impact we will have on others. Doing something kind for someone else will make you feel good about those moments. It may make you feel good about yourself along with it.
One person who knows this all too well is Joyce Reinhart. She was out with her grandson in 2017 getting ice cream when she saw a family sitting together on a bench. They were also out for the evening to enjoy an ice cream cone, and Joyce wanted to do something kind for them.
She thought that it was too good of a photo opportunity to pass up. Perhaps she explains it best, which she did in the Facebook post. She said:
“On June 8th I was at Rita’s Italian Ice with my grandson Blake treating him after his tennis lesson. As we were about to leave, there was this sweet family all sitting together on one of the benches enjoying a custard cone. Something urged me to ask them if I could take their picture…”
After taking the picture they parted ways. It was a nice exchange but it wasn’t unlike any other that we may have on a day-to-day basis.
Unfortunately, fate would play a role in this meeting.
She said: “I took this picture below and then handed my phone to the young daughter and told her to go ahead and text the picture to their cell phone.
“Left to take Blake home and explained to him how I have done this before when I see cute family moments of total strangers so they can have the memory.
Usually, I do this on vacation.”
A few days later, Joyce was sitting on the patio when a text message came in and she didn’t recognize the number. This was the message: “Dear madam, you took our picture in front of Rita’s on June 8th. My wife has passed away yesterday and this is the last picture we have together as a family. Please accept my deepest gratitude for your kindness, it means the world to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
After texting back and forth a few times, she found out that his wife had been ill for a year or so. She went on to say:
“My heart is heavy for this sweet family I don’t even know and the tremendous gift that was left to them cause I listened to my gut that day. I’m in awe!!”
This is a lesson for all of us to take the opportunity to do something kind today. You never know whose life you may touch in the process.