Waiting On Island Time

Waiting on Island Time

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

We waited. In the fading twilight, the stillness of the evening was broken by the sound of horses’ hooves clip-clopping along the deserted Mackinac Island street. I shivered, pulling my jacket closer while simultaneously hugging my seven-month-old daughter. It was almost 9:00 p.m., and my exhausted baby squirmed in my arms while my two-year-old jumped up and down on the pier.

No cars are allowed on the island, and horses and bikes are the main sources of transportation. So where was our horse-drawn taxi? Annoyed, I counted each minute until the carriage finally arrived. It was charming, really, but as we squeezed on with two other families, I was distracted. We hadn’t planned—or packed—well. We didn’t really think through the logistics of having to lug everything we had brought to our hotel. In our car, the overflowing luggage, toys, and portable crib looked reasonable. Piled on the pier, it all looked absurd. Feeling embarrassed that our luggage bordered on the ridiculous, that our children were cranky and acting like hooligans, and that others were there to bear witness to it all, I just wanted to go home.

Although I expected the other passengers to be annoyed with us, I was met with only kindness. When Elise threw her teddy at a man across from us in the carriage, he smiled good-naturedly and proceeded to play “Where’s teddy?” the remainder of the ride. She squealed, laughing uproariously every time he wiggled its head or threw it back to her. The other passengers smiled indulgently, and I found myself relaxing a little. As we arrived at our hotel and exited the carriage, I smiled with gratitude at our fellow travelers, who went out of their way to soothe a stranger’s frazzled nerves.

As Christians, we’re called to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward one another. Sometimes that means actively doing something for another person, but oftentimes all it requires is that we regard with compassion those who are struggling and show them mercy in their distress. The strangers in the taxi reminded me that a little compassion can go a long way.

—Kristin

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Go out of your way to be kind to a parent who is dealing with a recalcitrant child, whether it’s on a plane or at the grocery store.