Dylan’s Dandelion

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4

Once upon a time there was a handsome little boy named Dylan. He loved to laugh and he was such a happy boy. Everyone who had contact with him said he was going to be cruise director because of his ability to greet others with a smile and “Hello!”

One sunny, spring day his nanny took him for a walk/ride in his blue Chevrolet convertible which he beeped incessantly. The delightfully warm weather had brought out the yellow dandelions and he was most fascinated with them. He loved flowers and enjoyed sniffing each blossom. She stopped and picked one or two for him.

As they went on, they encountered a man on the street coming toward them. He was obviously dealing with some challenges (as he held tightly to his walkie-talkie that did not appear to work).

Dylan looked at him from top to bottom several times. The stranger tried to make small talk. The boy wasn’t too sure about this guy. His nanny asked the disheveled man about his day. Dylan listened as the man tried to speak but struggled due to lack of teeth.

With rapt attention, Dylan looked back and forth at the man and then his dandelion several times. Finally, without any prompting, he held out the flower to the man. Initially the man said, “No!” but Dylan was insistent. (Two-year-olds can be like that, you know.)

The man took the flower and told him, “Thank you!” several times. At that point, the nanny was choked up with tears and muttered, “We have to go now.” She pushed his little car down the block and thought how that yellow flower would never be the same again.

The man kept hollering, “Thank you” all the way down the street. Dylan turned and waved several times. They could still hear him even after he disappeared out of sight.

That day, they were all filled with a new and different kind of joy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLvRcbQVDt8&t=2s Kindness Song

Father, You have made each of us unique. Help us to use our gifts to show Your love to others. Help us to recognize those open doors and praise others for their good deeds. AMEN.