Let Someone Know

There are moments in our life where we do something so little, we wish we could do so much more, but maybe in the end it still means something.

Last night was one of these moments.  I found myself running down a dark sidewalk, in the cold rain, following an old man, who was hobbling and holding his knee with a broken crutch.  I had never met him, but yet I ran after him.  Why?  My heart ached to help him.  Through the eyes of the city, he is the lowest of the low, the poorest of the poor, a man who contributes little, but needs so much.  A man who has to dig through trash once everyone else has gone safely into their warm homes, with their bellies full,  just to strive to stay alive.  The city is sleeping in their soft beds, except for him. 

I have no idea what his story is, and I don't even know his name, but I know he matters.  He mattered to me last night and if I see him again, he will matter to me again.  Why?  He is a life, he breaths, he has feelings, needs, and maybe even dreams.  

In the end, maybe it looked crazy chasing after someone, unknown, in the rain, but I think it would have been even crazier to know I can help someone and not.  Stop, take time,  and
let someone know they matter.

Do Toddlers Know?

There is a little man who walks around with Cheerios stuck to his pants, sleeps with a car in each hand and drools on the top of his shirt. Sometimes I want to ask him how much he knows, but since he emphatically tells me stories in only a language he understands, it is a guessing game at this point.

If I could I would ask him:

When you saw that sweet little grandma lady smiling and finger waving in your direction; did you think yup perfect timing to put on the show stopper to get me what I want?

Do you realize when we share food your portion is about 5 times smaller than the portion I give myself?

Do you know that sometimes while your sleeping I sneak up to take a peak and I think about how much I love you?

If he knows that no matter how many floors he draws on, items he drops in the toilet or boogers he tries to wipe on my shirt;  I love every moment spent together?

Do you know, little super hero when you lay your head on me, pat my back and sneak up to kiss my cheek that you have the super power to dissolve my heart into a million pieces?

His little foot taps to the beat, his little hands clap to the rhythm and each day I wonder what he will learn next.