My husband and I were out for a simple anniversary dinner at our favorite local diner. A hole in the wall place really, but they have delicious burgers, tater tots with just the right amount of crisp, and mostly friendly staff. As I went to sit down with my one-trip salad bar plate, I noticed the waitress cleaning the booth across from us. I had seen her earlier, turning chairs upside down on tops of the tables and sweeping the dirty floor beneath them before the end of what her face told me was a long shift.

I turned and offered a simple smile, not expecting one in return. She smiled back. I said hello, making eye contact, and asked, “How are you doing?” She quickly replied, “Tired, I haven’t slept in three days.” I showed some concern and she continued to tell me how her dog was in labor two nights ago so she had been up with her, and then caring for the puppies before coming to work. I asked some questions about the dogs and she shared that she breeds them for veterans service animals.

She went on to tell me that she brought her two children to the zoo and then had to come back to work again that evening. To engage the conversation further, I asked how old her kids were and she said 3 and 2 years old. Then she confided that she should have been delivering her third child in a couple of weeks, but the baby was really sick and they had to deliver the baby at 21 weeks. She explained it was either her or the baby and there was nothing the doctors could do. I empathetically said, “I am so sorry” a couple times, not knowing what else to say to this young mother. She casually shook it off, and matter of factly stated, “So, now I work.” as if pushing down her emotions while remembering again that she would be close to full term and soon on maternity leave if not for the loss of her child.

My husband rejoined me at the table, I told her I hoped she could get some good rest tonight, and she returned to her clean up duties. And just like that the crossing of our paths was over.

I could have let that tired, crabby looking waitress go about her work while we enjoyed a quiet anniversary dinner. But I noticed her and saw something familiar. Maybe it was the exhaustion, or sadness, maybe the pain. Something drew me to her and I responded to the nudge.

All it took was a simple smile. A hello, with eye contact. A genuine, “How are you doing?” It wasn’t a long encounter, less than two or three minutes, but none the less meaningful. It was as if she needed someone to listen even if it was just for a moment.

You never know how much someone may need that simple gesture. Let us keep our eyes and hearts open and available to those around us. Let us not forget that we can all make a difference. Every day, in big and small ways. Sometimes even in the lives complete strangers.

Author: Elizabeth