An Angel on Board
Over the past 5-6 months I have tried to shine a spotlight on those among us who act unselfishly towards another. If I see something that brings a tear to my eye, or warms my heart, I want to pass along the event.
Many times when someone is caught doing something bad; their response is that, “Everyone does it.” Reading the newspapers, it is easy enough to believe that, in fact, EVERYONE is doing it. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Here is another story, like the one I shared yesterday. It’s nothing big. It’s nothing that will make you famous. It’s just a man who decided to be a blessing to family that had all too often encountered people who added to their burden.
We have all been in this situation before, you are on a long plane ride and the child seated beside you is unruly. How many times have we given dirty stares, asked to be moved, made it completely obvious to everyone on the plane that we were being imposed upon? Here’s a shortened version of the story…
A couple, with 2 children, are flying back from a Disney World vacation. Father and child are in one row, and seated behind them is the mother with the other child. The child with mother is autistic. Imagine the mother’s dread as to who is going to occupy the seat in their row. Here is mother’s account of the situation which she posted on her blog.
In an open letter titled, "Dear Daddy in Seat 16C, I watched the entire Temple basketball team board the plane, and wondered if one of these giants might sit by Kate. They all moved toward the back. She would have liked that … I watched many Grandmotherly women board and hoped for one to take the seat but they walked on by. For a fleeting moment I thought we might have a free seat beside us, and then you walked up and sat down with your briefcase and your important documents and I had a vision of Kate pouring her water all over your multi-million-dollar contracts, or house deeds, or whatever it was you held. The moment you sat down, Kate started to rub your arm. Your jacket was soft and she liked the feel of it. You smiled at her and she said: 'Hi, Daddy, that's my mom.' Then she had you."
The person in seat 16 C was Eric Kunkel, a businessman and married father of one. Eric put aside his paperwork, and for the duration of the flight entertained this little girl. Upon landing he even allowed the couple to leave the plane with their children ahead of him.
Reading the mother’s letter it is easy to see how every encounter they have with other people has the potential for disaster written all over it. Yet, for just for one day…for just a few hours a complete stranger took the high road, and chose to be kind.
Every day we encounter people, whose burdens we do not know. We all need to strive to be kind, to be understanding, and less judgmental. I am going to end this with a quote I just love.
Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
Mother Teresa
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