A Simple Act of Kindness

Ice cream sundae with spoon

Many years ago, a 10-year old boy walked up to the counter of a soda shop and climbed onto a stool. He caught the eye of the waitress and asked, “How much is an ice cream sundae?”

“Fifty cents,” the waitress replied. The boy reached into his pockets, pulled out a handful of change, and began counting. The waitress frowned impatiently. After all, she had other customers to wait on.

The boy squinted up at the waitress. “How much is a dish of plain ice cream?” he asked. The waitress sighed and rolled her eyes. “Thirty-five cents,” she said with a note of irritation.

Again, the boy counted his coins. At last, he said, “I’ll have the plain ice cream, please.” He put a quarter and two nickels on the counter. The waitress took the coins, brought the ice cream, and walked away.

About ten minutes later, she returned and found the ice cream dish empty. The boy was gone. She picked up the empty dish—then swallowed hard.

There on the counter, next to the wet spot where the dish had been, were two nickels and five pennies. The boy had had enough for a sundae, but he had ordered plain ice cream so he could leave her a tip. ~ Author Unknown

These past few months have brought out some of the best in people—from restaurant owners donating food to frontline workers, to people volunteering at food banks, and companies donating financial resources for PPE. We have witnessed acts of caring brought about by a global pandemic we all find ourselves facing. However, with every headline and news article, we continue to hear reports about unimaginable acts of violence and inconceivable attacks on innocent people. Yes, the little boy in the soda shop was just a story, but it presents an opportunity for a valuable lesson. We, too often, rush to make judgments on what we perceive instead of what is reality. We need to remember that change, resilience, and hope begin by caring for others. Every now and again, we just need a simple reminder that kindness is important. Whether it be a small child, a parent, or a stranger on the street, we need to take time to show others a little bit of thoughtfulness. The greatest lessons are sometimes learned through the actions of a child.