A Breath of Fresh Air

Yes, call me a sap but the scene below really tugged at my heartstrings during the Alabama vs. Clemson game Saturday evening. 

You see, the man on the left had two tickets for the seats directly in front of us and two up in the very highest "nose bleed" section of the Georgia Dome. His boys-- ages 12, 8 and 5-- were not old enough to be on their own and so he was in a quandry. He left the older two holding the seats directly in front of us while he went to see if he could offer those seats to someone up top so that he and his boys could all be together.

While he was gone, his two older children were as mature, gracious and well-mannered as two children can be. "Yes, ma'am" flew off their tongue quicker than melted butter as they sat patiently awaiting their father's return. When he came back to fetch the two older boys, the family to the right gave them the two seats they had purchased for their own kids (ages 2 and 4) at a whopping $50 a piece. They said they would just hold their sons in their laps so that the gentleman and his boys could all sit together.

What's so touching about this story besides a random act of courtesy and unselfishness?  I guess it just impressed the heck out of me that the family that owned those seats would do something so nice for someone they didn't know. And the unbelievably good manners of the kids on the left blew me away. Also, the tenderness for which both of these men cared for their children...priceless.

Call me hormonal. Maybe I missed my kids a bunch and the sight of these two families enjoying time together warmed my heart. It's just so rare to witness true selflessness these days ...true hospitality and graciousness and, well, KINDNESS.

It was a welcome breath of fresh air.

Plus, we won the game.  It was a great night.