Yesterday I flew to LA to speak for a group of Momentum moms.
As I was boarding, I noticed an elderly couple in front of me. The husband seemed weaker than the wife, so she told him to take his seat and that she would handle the luggage.
An onlooker was watching as well, and offered to help with her bags. She declined, saying, “I can do it myself, thanks.” It was hard to watch her struggle with her bags but eventually she got it. She apologized for keeping me waiting and I reassured her that I had nowhere else to be.
Although it was hard to watch her struggle alone, something occurred to me in that moment:
Sometimes, preserving a person’s dignity and sense of independence is a more significant kindness than physical assistance.
Praying I remember to be sensitive to this in the future.