My mother used to say that life is about paying it forward,
When I was young I never knew what she would mean,
As I grew older I tucked it in the back of my mind,
And a few months back I saw just what my mother meant.

You see as I was rushing in the storm toward my car, I saw a little girl standing at the bus stop near me, she was dripping wet and blue with cold.
I stopped my rush and turned to her to see if she needs help.
When I asked the little girl if I could maybe help, I learned the child was lost trying to find her way in a storm to buy her mother medicine but she was a few cents short.
So the pharmacy won't help her and with people rushing from rain, the little girl got lost and alone.

That very moment I took her to my car, got her momma that medicine and took the little girl home.
We stopped and I went in with her and there I found her sick mother, never have I seen gratitude so deep on any person's face than what I saw on that mother's face.

About 6 weeks ago I was taken to hospital with my apendix,
I was sick and weak and don't remember much of what went on.
I just remembered warm hands and soothing words that made it all seem okay.

Later in recovery I noticed I got special care.
One morning as the door opened that sick mother of months ago stood there she was my nurse.
And then those words my momma said came streaming into me.

Paying it forward child will always show the way.
Because somehow in life a small act of kindness from your side,
May be the small act of kindness you need later in your life.
© Lolla Smith