One early morning, after boarding a plane headed to Arizona, my mom and I settled into our seats. Of course, there was a young woman with a baby crying in her lap, sitting diagonally in the row in front of us. I hoped the little girl would settle down once we got in the air, but no luck. In fact, not only was she relentlessly crying, but her mother did absolutely nothing about it! She was just staring into space, emotionless as if she didn’t even have a crying baby in her lap. Needless to say, everyone around this woman was so irritated - including me - and the tension was escalating with each blood-curdling howl from the little girl.

Before anyone spoke up, my sweet mom asked the woman if she could hold her baby. To my surprise, the unresponsive woman handed over her little girl to a complete stranger, my mom. Meanwhile, I’m whispering to my mother, “Are you crazy? What are you doing that for?” Why would this lady just give her child to a complete stranger? Mom ignored me and continued to tell the little girl a story, just as she did for me when I was young. The toddler was captivated by my mom’s gentle energy; she slowly started to relax. Eventually, the little girl fell asleep as her big curls draped over my mom’s arm.

The mother of this child finally turned around and, with tears in her eyes, gave my mom a heartfelt thanks. She explained to us that they just left her husband at the airport. He was being deployed overseas and she had to take this flight with the baby to stay with her family. She did not know when she would see her husband next or if anything would happen to him while he was away. They were newlyweds and she was so scared and confused.

So, a few different perceptions were going on here:

1. First, everyone around this woman (except my loving mother) thought this lady was heartless and crazy.

2. Second, everyone around us thought my mother was crazy for taking the baby (I could feel the stares from the nearby passengers judging the whole situation).

3. And finally, after the sad, young mother’s confession, we all understood and sympathized. Suddenly, there was peace, support, and understanding.

Individually, we only knew what was going on inside of ourselves, our own stories. Maybe the man sitting next to this woman was going back to his hometown to see his dying father. Maybe the couple in front of the woman was completely irritated because they were quarreling. Maybe the man in the row across had a big presentation to give and this was the only time he had to prepare. Maybe the young teen seated by the window was aggravated because he didn’t get any sleep the night before this early flight. Maybe I was annoyed because I thought this woman could care less about her child.

When the mother of this crying child finally explained why she was so callous, we all came to a place of balance. If we knew what was really going on, I’m sure we all would’ve been more understanding from the beginning. Instead, we made assumptions - decisions based on our own limited perceptions, and we judged.

The lesson here is that we shouldn't be so quick to judge others because we never know when the tables might turn and we could be the ones facing judgment. It's a reminder to take a moment to think before jumping to conclusions about others. We all have vulnerabilities and flaws. When we acknowledge this truth and show compassion towards others, we become role models. We inspire others to follow suit and foster an environment that is more understanding and caring.

Author’s Afterword

I’ve decided to share this story from my book, Reflect, as a tribute to my dear mother Bernadine, who passed away in August 2023 at the age of 83. Bernie was not only a devoted mother to her children but also a nurturing presence in her community. She had a heart that extended beyond her own family, and many considered her to be like a second mother. Her love knew no limits, as she possessed an incredible ability to make everyone feel seen and valued. Even as her health declined over the course of a courageous 20-year battle with vascular dementia, Bernie remained a beacon of positivity and strength. Her infectious smile and laughter radiated warmth and illuminated every room she entered. She showed us that happiness can be found in the simplest moments and taught us the power of unwavering optimism in the face of adversity. We will always cherish the memories of Bernie and her immense love. May she rest in peace.

Thank you for reading this blog post! If you enjoyed the content and want to learn more about the topics discussed, I highly recommend checking out my book, REFLECT: A Perspective on Understanding Your Reality and Becoming Unstuck. In it, I dive deeper into the strategies and insights shared in this post, offering even more valuable information and practical advice. Click here to order your copy of REFLECT today! You can also visit my website for more information.