Compassion At The Cookie Booth

Compassion at the Cookie Booth

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

We were barely on time for my daughter’s Girl Scout cookie booth. As we drove into the Walmart parking lot, I breathed a sigh of relief—until I looked a little closer at the group of adults and kids milling by the entrance, greeting passersby as they walked in and out of the building. Frowning, I realized that I didn’t recognize any of them. I quickly pulled into a parking space, grabbed my phone, and found the event details.

“Oh no, we’re at the wrong place!” I burst out, throwing my car into reverse and then forward again to exit back onto the road. As the engine roared, Elise and I flew back in our seats a bit. Muttering under my breath, I felt anxious at every red stoplight, frustrated by every small delay. When Elise asked me an innocent question, I responded sharply. By the time we arrived at the right location, I felt completely discombobulated and apologized profusely.

“Oh, are you late?” the cookie mom asked, peering at her watch. “I didn’t even notice.”

While the girls sold Caramel deLites and shortbread, the other moms and I chatted. One asked how my husband was doing. As I related the story of how he had ruptured his Achilles and was now recovering, I found myself in tears. My husband was fine, but in the wake of his injury, I felt like I was buried under a mountain of mothering responsibilities. Our lateness that morning was just one more symptom of the helplessness I’d been battling.

Yet as I rubbed at my eyes, the other moms responded with sympathy and understanding. They waved away my apologies, said they knew how I felt, and continued on to talk about our kids and lives. As the shift wore on, I felt myself relaxing, their understanding a balm to my aching heart. Sometimes we can be discomfited in the face of someone else’s grief or hurt, but as friends, the unconditional love we provide is just as important in those moments of heartache as it is in moments of happiness.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Extend words of sympathy and compassion the next time a friend tells you about a difficulty they’re experiencing.