A few months ago, I went out to lunch with a few people from the university I worked at. We walked into the restaurant, and we were the only group there, with the exception of a mom and her son, probably in his twenties, and it was obvious he had Down’s Syndrome. The boy ran up to two of the professors I was with, and without saying a word, got them each to fist bump him, and then he’d turn with his back to them, cross his arms in front of him, and they would pick him up briefly. The boy’s smile lit up the restaurant, and then he’d go back to his mom. 

I was in line, getting ready to order, right behind one of the professors, when the boy came up again, and the professor stopped what he was doing, gave him a high five, and picked him up again. Then, he finished placing his order. 

We were sitting at the table, chatting about life, when the kid came up again, and both professors didn’t hesitate leaving their sandwiches to give him a high five and pick him up again. The retired secretary leaned over and asked if I knew who the kid was. When I shook my head, she told me that he was the younger son of a chemistry professor who used to work there, right up until he died of cancer. “Aww, that’s so sad.” I said quietly, as I watched the two professors play with the kid. 

Probably about three times during our lunch, the boy came up and each time, both of the professors, with a grin on their face, would give him a high five and pick him up. Eventually, the kid and his mom were getting ready to leave, and he ran back over one last time. 

“Do you want us both to pick you up?” One of the professors asked. The boy just grinned, so each one took an arm and carried him through the restaurant to the door, the smile on the kid’s face growing with each step. The mom laughed and thanked them – they looked like they were bouncers for the restaurant! While it was a funny sight, something struck me. 

Throughout my years at college, and my graduate school education, most of the people with Ph.D.s that I met acted like they were too cool for anyone else. But both of these men did not hesitate, grumble, look annoyed, or otherwise disturbed anytime the boy would come up to them. Each time, they would be smiling and joking and so kind to him. As I watched them carry him out, grinning ear to ear, I realized that these two had very good character. 

Most people would be annoyed if they were interrupted from their lunch multiple times, and some would brush the kid off. But these two seemed just as excited to see him as the boy was to see them, and not once did they look or act disgruntled. 

People are always watching you, whether you realize it or not. And as I was just watching them interact with the kid, it hit me that at any time they could have brushed him off or pretended he didn’t exist…but instead, they were just as eager to play with him. 

They came back to the table after they’d carried him to the door, and waved goodbye as the boy and his mom left. Then they continued the conversation as if nothing had happened, and I was so impressed with them. Sometimes, people with Ph.D.s are some of the rudest people out there…but not these two. 

What is your character like? Would someone be able to watch you during your lunch and get a very good impression of what your character is? Would it be good or bad? Do you get annoyed with people easily, or think that you don’t have time to do some things or that people would judge you if you did treat someone differently? They could have sat there and wondered what we would think if they kept letting their lunch be interrupted – but I can tell you they didn’t care. They made that kid so happy, each time he came up, and they made him feel special and important. How do you make others feel?

If you are not 100% sure that you’ll go to Heaven when you die, now is the time to repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you have any questions or doubts about your salvation, click here to learn how you can be saved!

Let me know if you have any comments or suggestions below or you can contact me here! I love hearing from you! 

If you are not 100% sure that you’ll go to Heaven when you die, now is the time to repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you have any questions or doubts about your salvation, click here to learn how you can be saved!

Let me know if you have any comments or suggestions below or you can contact me here! I love hearing from you!