Lady with the Luggage.

For the first time in what seems like forever, I woke up with no "to do" list.  After almost two years of wedding planning, I can finally say "I'm done".  After three weddings, there is absolutely no denying we are married now.  

But this isn't about my personal wedding season.  It's about sitting back and watching the world fall apart.  And although I have many sentiments about the political landscape many countries are facing these days, my concern is more centered on the lack of kindness I've observed in people.  And these observations can be summarized in a story about a lady with the luggage.

A few days ago, Chris and I were going through the ever-so-painful customs process in the not-so-lovely Newark airport.  As we were re-checking our luggage, we came across a mother traveling alone with her toddler-aged son.  If I put my pediatric nursing assessment skills to good use, I would guess the kid was around 3 years old.  She had two large pieces of luggage and she was trying her best to hold her screaming toddler while maneuvering both pieces.  You could tell she was struggling.  I offered to help her with one of her bags and she gladly accepted.  So now I'm pulling a set of golf clubs, carrying a heavy backpack and helping with her luggage while Chris has 5 bags packed on a cart (did I mention getting married overseas requires some extra baggage?!?).  Right before we reached the end of a VERY long recheck-your-bag line, an airport employee re-routed the line forcing everyone to walk another 75 yards on a downward slope, turnaround and return to where the line would now wrap around.  Chris spoke up and asked the airport employee to cut the woman some slack and let her get into the line at that point instead of walking the extra distance.  He explained we were helping with her luggage because she had her hands full with the  screaming toddler -- the same screaming toddler this women could very plainly see.  There was no convincing this airport employee and she refused to let the woman pass because apparently there is some "rule" that prohibits her making an exception.  Chris went back and forth with this employee but she would not back down.  So we pulled her luggage and helped her get back in line.  At this point, tears are streaming down this woman's face...kid still screaming.  There was a gentleman in line that helped her with luggage while we got our own bags arranged and resettled.  As we stood in line with this mother crying, another airport employee informed us the baggage belt had just broke and now we all had to load up on a bus and go to our actual terminals or our bags would not make it.  Thankfully our terminal was actually the one we were in so we dropped our 4 checked bags and then accompanied the lady to her terminal to help her with her bags until they were rechecked.  

Chris and I were shocked at the complete rudeness of the airport employee and the total lack of compassion for this lady who clearly was having a bad day.  Many people saw her struggling and not a single person stood up for her until we made a big deal about it.  The entire situation left a bad taste in my mouth and for the rest of the day I felt as though when I watched people interact, all I saw was rudeness.  I believe we've lost kindness and compassion in this world.  Even in the U.K., I witnessed unbelievable rudeness and generally Brits are known for being polite.  (If the Brits are losing their kindness, the world really must be in trouble!!!)  We are more concerned with "the rules" than taking care of one another.  (This coming from a person who is quite the "rule follower".  However, there are times you break rules to stand up for what is right and kindness is right.)

As I've experienced more and more bad days or battled emotions behind the scenes,  I've tried to develop a stronger compassion for others.  I'm thankful for the days someone went out of their way to give me a hand and I genuinely try to do the same for others.  So it is so hard to sit back and watch people lack compassion with one another and not feel a sense of despair.  

So to counteract my despair, I'm asking a favor for any person who reads this blog.  Look for an opportunity to show compassion to someone this week.  Seek out someone having a rough day, break some rules if you have to, but find a way cut them some slack.  Do something kind and genuine for someone who maybe doesn't deserve it.  Break away from all the negativity and hate that is filling our days and shine light.  

Colossians 3:12-14
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Kindness, compassion, and LOTS of luggage,

​Ashley Lucille