I got comfy in my movie chair with a movie snack and a big, icy-cold club soda. I was so excited to finally see Toy Story 4. (No spoilers here!)
Then it happened.
A mom and her grown son sat down in the row right in front of me. In a confident, friendly voice, the mom addressed her seat neighbor: “My son is autistic. He may talk out loud during the movie. Just wanted you to know why.”
I’m not proud of my knee-jerk reaction, pun intended. I almost moved to a different section of the theatre to experience the film distraction-free.
An instant later, I decided this was an opportunity to be a nice human. It was my chance to show empathy and kindness without saying a word.
I stayed.
About a dozen times, (maybe – I wasn’t counting) the son talked out loud. He said his mom’s name. He made comments about the movie, expressing things you might think or feel but not say. When Mom went for a popcorn refill, the son looked lost and kept turning his head to see if she was returning. When Mom came back, her boy relaxed.
It was touching. It was more inspiring than seeing a Pixar flick and that’s saying something.
Going on opening night was a spontaneous idea. But I think the whole thing was in God’s appointment book all along.
My encouragement for you today is to keep your eyes open for those unexpected opportunities to grow that God will put in your path. Small moments that make a big imprint on your heart.
