Bus Stop

It was an ordinary day at the bus stop. The usual suspects were lining up, checking emails, listening to music or sipping on their first cup of coffee. For the most part, the people keep to themselves. Being a morning person myself, I typically have to resist my desire to chat out of respect for those who do not share that personality trait.

Unexpectedly, the gentleman in front of me turned to me and struck up a conversation about the weather and, in particular, about the mosquitoes. The bugs were literally attacking him. I had a few by me, but they were seriously swarming him. He was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops and they were having a field day with him. It was my good fortune that today I opted for pants and a long sleeve sweater that had me covered from head to toe so those pesky mosquitoes could gain no entrance to my skin. Trust me.. I have my fair share of bites already.

Despite the raid on his body, this poor man kept up his cheery disposition for a full 20 minutes. He seriously was being targeted by these bugs and I’m not sure why. I felt so bad for him and surely thought if that was me, I would have hid in my car until the bus came. But, because the line can be so long and once it’s filled you could be bumped from it, he stood there and “took it like a man.”

Finally the bus pulled up and we all prepared to get on board. Only, the man in front of me did the most shocking thing… I watched as a woman got out of her car, walked up to him, kissed him and thanked him and she took his spot on line and boarded the bus. He walked away got into the car she emerged from and drove away. I was amazed at this act of love that I witnessed. This man, who was not even getting on the bus to begin with, endured a very painful wait (I can only imagine how many bites he received during those 20 minutes) all in the name of love for his girlfriend/wife. I thought that was such a selfless act.. so kind, so thoughtful and I wondered to myself how many other people would be willing to do something like that. Would you endure pain or even inconvenience for someone you love? Would you think more of their comfort then of your own?

It left me thinking about those I love and how I am serving them…how I am loving them. I have a new determination to think less of me and more of them.. not because I have too, but because I want to.