Meditation Reflection: Shoe Shine Honor

Listening to the Promptings of My Heart

My son loved to have his boots polished by a shoe-shiner, especially enjoying sharing stories with the person.  Since my son’s death, I occasionally have donated money in his name to a shoe-shiner.  Waiting in an airport recently, I saw an older man shining a pilot’s boots and heard the two men sharing their life stories.  I thought of my son and pulled out $10 while waiting for the shoe-shiner to be done.  I felt my son saying, “$10 dollars, Mom?  Really?” So, I put the $10 away and took out $20, later wishing it was $100.    

I approached the shoe-shiner and handing him the $20, I said I would like to give him this in honor of my son who died in the military, and who loved to have his boots shined. The man, after saying he was sorry for my loss, hugged me, kissed my head, and hugged me again. 

He said he has worked this job for 24 years and loves talking with all the people. Thanking me again, he said he finds out this week if he has stage 4 cancer.

You don’t know the loads others are carrying.