The Kindness of a Stranger by Carol Harrison

 

My husband, youngest daughter, and I sat at a table in a crowded restaurant. It had been a long day of driving on our homeward journey. I must admit to being tired and wanting a quiet meal but the noise level started giving me a headache, especially from the young man at the table across the aisle from us. No matter what his quieter, older companion suggested or talked about the younger fellow had lots to say in a very loud voice complete with f-bombs dropping every few words. That bothered me worse than even the loud volume.

I would have loved to change tables but none were available. I began hoping the two men would forgo dessert or more coffee and leave quickly. Finally, just after our food arrived, the two men got up to leave. The younger headed out while the older man stopped to apologize for his companion’s language and volume, saying how appalled he had been with the behaviour of his guest. This small act of kindness took me by surprise and assuaged my frustration. I appreciated his gesture.

The rest of our meal proved to be peaceful and uneventful. We didn’t linger too long since all of us were eager to get to our hotel room for some much-needed rest. When we asked for our bill, the waitress told us it had already been looked after. We were confused and incredulous. Who would pay for a stranger’s meals? My husband asked for some clarification. Nothing like this had ever happened to us before.

The older gentleman from the table across the way who had apologized on his way out had also paid for our meals with instructions for the waitress not to mention it until he’d left. He wanted no thanks.

This act of kindness from a stranger has stuck with me all these years. If he could apologize and pay for our meals what’s my excuse for not showing kindness to someone else. Ephesians 4:32 commands us “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.”

This stranger’s act of kindness overwhelmed me especially when I’d been grumpy inside about having to be subjected to such language and loudness when I desired a quiet meal with my husband and daughter. Kindness really does affect the recipient but I think it also affects the giver.

 

Carol Harrison lives and writes from Saskatoon, SK. She loves to tell stories about real life events that have occurred as well as family history.