A Pass-It-On Kind of Day

I had to take our car in for emissions testing the other day. (boring)

My daughter brought a little bag of markers and paper, and she settled herself quietly on a folding chair for our wait in line.

Ten minutes later she leaned over to me and whispered, “Hey, momma. Can I give this card to him?” pointing to the older gentleman ahead of us in line.

I nodded, and she walked a little tentatively across the room.

“Here,” she held the card out shyly.

He looked down, surprised. Then over at me. His eyes danced over his mask as he opened the card.

“It’s for you!” she exclaimed.

“Oh, wow! Thank you!!!”

I could tell he was still smiling as he tucked the card into his front shirt pocket and turned to pay for his car’s emissions testing.

He left for a minute, but quickly returned and passed me a $5 off coupon with a crinkled-eyes kind of nod.

Then when I used the coupon at the register, the worker behind the counter said, “Hey, it looks like this coupon doesn’t have an expiration date. Why don’t you keep it for next time too!”

“Oh, cool. Thanks! But I think I’d like to pass it on,” I answered turning to hand it to the woman waiting behind me.

Her eyes brightened, too.

In fact, I think that whole room was smiling!!

On my drive home, I couldn’t help wondering how far that coupon might go and whether the kind, older gentleman might tack his little hand-made card with hearts and flowers up on the center of his fridge, reminding him to smile.

And I’m pretty sure THIS is how we’ll find our way through, you guys.

May you have a pass-it-on kind of day.