(not our real hands, but good for perspective)

mine is the tinkerbelle hand with a minor ‘injury’ and his, the paul bunyan hand with a major trauma.

 waiting in the store checkout line

browsing through my phone

  the man in front of me

laughing and chatting with the cashier

saying it was a challenge to sign the receipt

because of his hand

hearing this

turned to face him

  beginning to take in the situation

(major cast on his arm and hand)

while i quickly blurted out:

“it’s the worst, isn’t it?!”

 whining about having an injury too

he asked me what happened

explaining the battle with my car door

 he had a young daughter with him

 was so kind and gentle with her

laughing and chatting

just as he had done with the cashier

when i asked him what happened

wondering why he had such a big cast

he told me his story

it involved him trying to stop someone

from stealing his fiancee’s car

and

a dog attack

instant perspective shift

 before i could say anything

he turned to go

saying,

“i’m sorry that happened to you and i hope you heal really soon.”

all i could say was, “you too..”

  how fortunate the people in his life are

even the strangers he encounters in his day

 lucky to cross paths with him

this gentle giant

walks softly

teaching huge lessons.

—

“look at you comforting others with the words you want to hear.”

-author unknown