Mom shopping with toddler was confronted by an elderly man — what he said next completely 'changed her life'
Parents might have to juggle several other tasks along with spending time with their kids, which can get difficult. However, a stranger approached a mom shopping at a store with her two kids and shared a story that made her realize how important her time with her kids is. She had a conversation with the stranger and felt that he must have been "sent by god." It changed the way she looked at parenting, per a Facebook post by the mom, Leanne Willen, who goes by Leane Willen at Life Happens When on the platform.
"I was pushing my shopping cart filled to the brim with children and food through the store when an older gentleman approached us," Willen began. The man saw the kids and wanted to talk to them. He felt that they were very cute and asked them several questions. "Thankfully, my kids were cooperative and answered his questions." He went on his way after talking to the family for a while, but then came back to them some time later and told the mom a story. "He looked straight at me and said, 'I want to tell you something.' He then began a story about when his son was five years old."
The son wanted his dad to build him a birdhouse, but the dad said no because he had some "important" work to do. "He watched his disappointed five-year-old slump off without crying or making a scene and suddenly he felt terrible for breaking his son's heart." The man called his son back and they went to a store together to buy the materials to build a bird house. They ended up building the bird house and forty years later, the man couldn't remember anything about his important work and what he was about to do before his son came to him. "Then, he looked me in the eyes and said, 'But we still have that birdhouse.'" Willen immediately had tears in her eyes after listening to that.
"Even though I'm with my kids for the majority of our days, I don't always devote myself fully to them," the mom admitted. "I halfheartedly do activities with them. I fuss at them. I get distracted by chores and my to-do list and my phone." She expressed, "This man may never know just how much he stopped me in my tracks, helped me adjust my priorities and inspired me to slow down and be more intentional with my family." The woman felt that god puts people in "our path" to help show us the way. She encouraged people to stay open to receiving messages the next time a stranger came to talk to them. "It might change your life! Life happens when we talk to strangers!"
People shared their thoughts on the story in the comments section of the post. Mikala Albertson wrote, "Today we made cookies together. My little boy cracked the eggs. I was so distracted, I forgot the second cup of flour. He was thrilled by those 'pancake cookies'. He's going to remember this afternoon with just the two of us...I just know it!" Bambi Loveday commented, "Aww, I love this! Such a great reminder to do what really matters!" Freida Rene' Brinegar remarked, "I love reading your stuff! So wise beyond your years!" Leanne Holman shared, "Needed this reminder as well. Thank you for sharing."