A Stranger

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."

~Mark Twain

Sometimes, as a stay at home wife and mother I start to feel that my days run together with the same tedious chores and tasks. Often times I feel that I am inadequate to be a mom. I compare myself to others and I wonder if I am appreciated for the things that I do. That is why, this past week I was thankful for a kind stranger that crossed my path.

I took my girls to the public library on Monday. I was walking in with all three girls in tow when a grandma aged woman held the door open for me and my girls. My girls passed through each smiling at her and saying thank you(except Bethany of course!). Then I did the same. At the second door one of my girls held the door open for the lady. She smiled at her and said thank you then she turned to me and said, "You are a beautiful Mom with 3 beautiful daughters and are doing a wonderful job. Keep up the good work! Then after I said thank you she replied, "I mean it. You are a beautiful, wonderful Mom doing a great job with your girls." This lady didn't know me or my children but the way she said it made me convinced that I truly was! Her comment alone made all the exhausting drama from the day with my girls go away. It has stuck with me all week and when I start feeling like I am unfit to be a mother or too tired to keep going, I can still hear her words and they give me confidence.

It has also made me realize how just taking a moment to be kind to anyone-even a complete stranger- can make someones day. So take time this week to slow down, smile at someone and give a little kindness!