beautiful.

yesterday was beautiful.
and such a surprise to my heart.
there are some days when things just click... and you can't stop smiling.
i couldn't tell you exactly when or what it was, but my eyes were opened and the smile still hasn't left my face.

you see, there's a part of me that is very judgemental.
i try to ignore that part... get rid of it, but sometimes it still rears it's ugly little head.
david and i were on a little trip to the grocery yesterday to get some stuff to make dinner.
we were simply driving around the parking lot, and there was an open spot in between two cars.
my judgmental heart saw a woman standing next to one of these vehicles smoking and in my head i immediately thought something hurtful and wanted to tell david to move on to another space.
but of course my stupid, ugly heart was wrong.
she smiled at us and moved the cart that was in the spot so that we could park there.
what a wonderfully, kind woman.
after getting out of the car and thanking her for moving the cart her daughter bounded up to her, all smiles and giggles.
she was telling her mom all about the little stuffed bear she just won from the claw machine inside the store...
then she simply turned to me with light in her eyes and joyfully told me all about how she "won this bear!".
she continued by handing me one of those free recipe cards they have in all grocery stores from the bunch that she had collected from inside...
and simply said, "this is for you. see, you won too..."
my face was flushed... i was embarrassed on behalf of my judgement...
but she was so happy and wonderful..
after walking away david grabbed my hand and said, "it's funny, because she's just like you."
in my head i could only think about how impossible that was... my ugly heart didn't look anything like that beautiful little girl's smile...
of course though David says, "she's so happy she just wants everyone around her to be happy... that's you."

and that simple interaction... her simple smile... turned my attitude around.
so thank you... thank you to that beautiful mother who i so selfishly judged.
you are raising a daughter that knows how to see joy and capture it.
you are doing a wonderful job, you are a wonderful mother.
i wish i had told her that.