Once upon a time, there was a volunteer cross-walk guard who guided Romig Jr. High students as they crossed Minnesota on the way to school. A student mentioned in passing that her 13th birthday was the next day.
The following morning, the cross-walk guard gave her a carefully wrapped gift and told her to open it when she arrived home later that day. When she opened the package, she found a lovely golden pen.
As she grew older, went on to high school, and then to college, she always kept an eye out for the cross-walk guard, and when she reached into her handbag and pulled out the golden pen, she smiled as she remembered his thoughtfulness.
Even though she hasn’t seen him for years, the golden pen is a beautiful reminder, and proof of how a small act of kindness can make a lasting impression.
I hope that somewhere, someday, somehow, we can all make people smile at the memory of us long after we are gone.
