By: Brenda Wilkerson
“Will you help me tie my shoe?” came a tiny voice amidst the noise of all the kids clamoring aboard for our afternoon flight home. I looked down to see a very knotted-up shoestring.
Well, 99% of me wanted to say, “Not right now sweetie. The kids are loading and you are one of the first stops. Your mommy can help you when you get home.” But something told me to take the time to help this stressed out kindergartener.
This five-year-old is the oldest of three, and I got the ‘mommy-sense’ to give it a try, knowing her mommy already had her hands full. I could tell this curly-headed, freckle-faced angel had tried several times because of the countless knots that were stacked on top of each other. She tried. She really tried. How could I look into those big blue eyes and say anything else but, “Of course! Give me your shoe.”
We wrestled the shoe free as the usual onboard chaos churned behind us. She watched expectantly as I danced with at least seven knots! — even using the assistance of the point of a pen. Yep, she sure tried and I commended her effort!
At last, the two tiny shoestrings were momentarily free from each other. She propped her tiny foot up on the metal rim of the garbage can, and with some help, she nestled her foot back into that left shoe. I soon presented her with the prettiest double-knotted, dirty shoestring I ever tied. Ta da! We both celebrated momentarily, and like magic, the stress wrinkles between her little eyebrows disappeared. She then turned with a grateful smile, and wrestled the chatty influx of children to get back to her assigned seat.
As I buckled up and readied for the afternoon takeoff, it hit me. The shoestring. It preached to my soul. The smallest act of kindness can make the biggest difference to the receiver. I know we all have been the receiver of someone’s gift of kindness and time. So our call to action today is find that one soul to gift a small portion of your time today.
By: Brenda Wilkerson
June 20, 2025
