Person to Person

Today, walking across the parking lot from the grocery store, I smiled at a younger woman walking to the store.

The look on her face caught me. It just about brought tears to my eyes. It was a look of unspoken need. ‘Does anybody see me? Does anyone care?’

We are people and we need other people. We need the acknowledgment of another human being. That is just the way we are made.

Even apparently tough looking individuals – deep inside need to be acknowledged and recognized by another.

Many times, all another person needs is some kind of encouragement, commendation; somebody who notices them personally. They don’t want to be ‘insulted’ by a mere handout. They want to be seen for who they are and where they are.

I think this is especially important for people in wheelchairs, those struggling in stores or going up and down the sidewalk, parents pushing a severely disabled family member. They all need someone – you, me – to pause and smile at them, greet them, tell them ‘Hi’, make eye contact with them. They may not be able to respond, but they will feel your loving-kindness and it will bring them cheer, even if only for a moment.

Don’t withhold these free gifts of yours from others in need. Together, we each can bring life giving influence into our circles. It will send ripples, perhaps unseen to us at the time, but felt by others.

Who will I be watching for today?