Category: Kindness

Aaron’s Joy to The World

Today after I picked Aaron up from his day group, we went to our vision center to get Aaron’s bent glasses un-bent.  This will not be the last time we do this.

Aaron was super excited to show me the Christmas antler headband he had gotten at his day group.  Of course, he grabbed it as we left the car and put it on his head as we walked in the door to the vision center.

I saw three other people sitting in the glasses area and thought our wait would be too long so I told Aaron we should just try again tomorrow.

This Plan B of mine was not acceptable to Aaron.

The poor new-to-us receptionist that was headed around the corner to the waiting area was suddenly waylaid by Aaron before I could even grab one of his antlers.  

“HEY!” he loudly exclaimed to her.  “Can I stay and get my glasses adjusted?”

She stammered as I began to tug on Aaron’s coat while explaining to her that we would come back tomorrow because the wait might be too long.

“No,” Aaron said, “can I get my glasses fixed now?  They’re bent!”

“Well, sure,” she kindly responded, “you can get them fixed today.”

“But I think we should come tomorrow,” I began.

But Aaron was taking off his glasses and reached out to hand them to her.

“Here!!” he said, “can you fix them?”

I had to explain that she was not the glasses fixer as she went back to her chair and signed Aaron in and my fate was sealed.

“Wait!” Aaron blurted out as we sat down.  “Since we might have to wait, I need to get my sticker book out of the car.”

He was gone in a flash while I watched him from the window and hit the unlock button on my app.

The car would not unlock.

I tried again.  Aaron stood there staring at me in the window and shaking his head no.

So out the door I went, got the door unlocked, and Aaron grabbed his book before walking briskly back to the waiting room.

Just as we walked in, the technician who knows us smiled broadly as she called Aaron’s name.  

Actually, everyone knows us if I have Aaron with me.

This lady is the kindest person and she loves Aaron.  She complimented his green sparkly reindeer antlers and then asked to see his latest sticker book.  She took all the time in the world to talk to him, all the while with a huge grin on her face and true delight.  

He was already busily filling his sticker book page as she got up to go in the back and work on his glasses.  The page wouldn’t stay open, so he took the mirror on the table beside him and put it on the page to hold it open.  He acted perfectly at home to do that.  

I just relaxed in my chair.  It felt good to take a breath after our very hectic and loud entrance.  It was a big relief to be with someone who knows Aaron and who loves to talk to him.  

Aaron didn’t see anything at all amiss about his loudness.  He was totally unaware that all eyes were on him.

But me…even after all these years I still feel the eyes of the people around us and I struggle sometimes with embarrassment.

Yet I looked at Aaron sitting there, green antlers and all, with the mirror holding his book open and his eyes intent on each sticker being placed just right…

And I thought how to Aaron, everything in that moment was just right, too.  He was getting his glasses adjusted and he was talking to someone who truly was interested in his every word, and he finished the picture he had started.

I looked around and saw the other technicians smiling at Aaron and at me.  His comments were delighting them.

Aaron moved the mirror and gathered his book up after we were done.  He was up and off without even a goodbye as our friend just laughed with…joy.

That was it, I thought.  Joy.

I saw other patients smiling at us as we walked out, Aaron’s green antlers shining as he led the way to the door and the car.

There it was again as we passed them.  Joy.

It was on their faces.  I wondered what was on my face when we first came in the waiting room.  I can tell you it wasn’t joy.

There are plenty of times that Aaron exasperates me but today it did me lots of good to pause and see that Aaron does have his unique and uninhibited way of spreading his own brand of joy to others.  

I want to remember this day.

Green antlers and all.

Another Lunch With Aaron

“Where are you eating lunch today?” asked the ladies at the front desk as Aaron and I left his Epilepsy doctor visit.  

“Chili’s!!” Aaron answered excitedly.

“Oh, I love Chili’s,” one said.

“I want to go to Chili’s!” added the other.

Aaron chuckled loudly as we left the waiting room, me warm with their always welcoming chatter with Aaron…and Aaron walking with purpose now because finally we were going to lunch!  After all, eating out is the real objective of every doctor appointment, at least for Aaron.

Soon we were pulling under a shade tree in the Chili’s parking lot, where Aaron was quickly opening his door while I quickly told him to wait on me.  He did, thankfully, and together we walked in the door.  

Curious stares greeted us as Aaron barreled in and had eyes for only one thing…the toothpick dispenser.  You see, Aaron “collects” toothpicks, so he makes a beeline in every restaurant to the sharp little prizes he knows are on the front counter.  He proceeded to increase his collection while I trailed slightly behind him, trying to greet the host while simultaneously attempting to discreetly tug Aaron away from the toothpicks.  Aaron was unaware of the host saying hello or of the all-too familiar looks he was receiving from the puzzled host.  He was too busy stuffing toothpicks in his pocket, but he did have presence of mind enough to tell the host we wanted a booth while I reminded him that any seat was fine.  

I was just happy to finally be seated.  Our server appeared quickly.  I could tell right away that he was comfortable with Aaron, and I hoped that attitude would last.  We were still early into his Aaron experience and one just never knows.

“Hello,” he happily said.  “My name is Luke and I’ll be taking care of you today.”

“Can I have a salad with NO croutons and TWO ranches??!!” Aaron bellowed.  

And for at least the millionth time I reminded Aaron that our server was taking our drink orders now.  Food orders would come later.

“Oh OK,” Aaron replied as if this was new news.  

Our waters came and the instant Luke asked if we were ready to order…

“Can I have a salad with NO croutons and TWO ranches??!!”

I guess I don’t need to tell you whose order that was.

Luke was smiling broadly as Aaron continued his order.  Aaron always asks IF he can have the menu items he wants, as if he needs permission from the server.  I don’t even try to correct him anymore.  I figure it’s part of Aaron’s charm.

We munched on chips and salsa while waiting for our meals, Aaron pretty much talking non-stop.  Luke was very attentive and kind, checking on us often with a big smile. 

A few young men walked by our table.  The stare one of them gave Aaron made me want to tell him to take a page out of Luke’s playbook.  Aaron is NOT an alien so quit looking at him like he is, I wanted to yell.  Although as I have often said, Aaron would think looking like an alien is super cool!

 I did have to monitor situations sometimes as we sat in our booth that Aaron wanted.  He turned to stare at the people sitting near us, uncomfortably so, and I had to remind him to turn around and not to stare.  

“I just wanted to see what they were eating,” he explained.

Then came the reminder to not point at the large group of people behind me as he informed me that they must be having a party.

“But I just think they’re having a party,” he told me as he pointed again!

Luke stopped again to check on us.

“Can we have chips and salsa to take home??!!” Aaron loudly asked while I protested and Luke said, “Sure!!” much to Aaron’s happy laughing delight.

Finally, Aaron was full, and we were ready to go.  As we stood up, Aaron edged slightly close to the woman in the booth behind us as he stared down at her plate.  I was trying to gently pull him back.  Her husband eyed Aaron suspiciously and I hoped to catch his eye and apologize but he was fixed on Aaron.

I again explained to Aaron how inappropriate and embarrassing that was as we walked away while he again explained that he just wanted to see what she was eating.  

And again, I ran interference as we passed the hostess desk, and he smelled the scent of those toothpicks.  I succeeded in averting the toothpick theft this time as the eyes of the host eyed Aaron once again.

We made it inside our hot car.

WHEW!!

Another lunch on the books.  

Another group of people with varying impressions of our Aaron.

Another reminder that when an Aaron walks into your life for even this brief time, just smile like Luke…disregard Aaron’s pointing…understand that he is curious about other people’s plates and parties…and whatever you do…

DON’T STARE!!

I just might let him point at you and stare back!  

Rocks or Popcorn

Aaron loves rocks that he thinks are unusual.  Outside his day group, along the curb, are landscape rocks.  They grow much easier than grass.  Unless you have an Aaron, who eyeballs the rocks every day in search of THE one…or more than one…that he will pocket on that day.  The rocks are slowly dwindling with Aaron around, no matter how many times we tell him that he should not take…aka steal…any rocks.

These rocks have value to Aaron.  Some he thinks are diamonds or crystals even though we tell him they are not diamonds or crystals.  We tell him they are just normal rocks that need to stay in their rock home.  Still, he gathers the rocks and lately has been putting them in a large storage bag.

Tomorrow my husband is having shoulder replacement surgery.  We have kept this low key in order not to worry Aaron.  Aaron would be more worried about how this big change in our normal day would affect him instead of Gary but still, worry is worry.  

Or so we thought.

Last night, Aaron went into Gary’s study and handed Gary his bag of special rocks.

“Here, Dad,” Aaron said as he handed Gary the bag.  “I want you to take these to the hospital.”

Gary was so touched.  And he responded with such wisdom.

“Well, Aaron,” he replied, “I might be confused because of the drugs and think those rocks are candy.  If I ate one, I could break a tooth.”

Aaron thought for a second, took back the bag of rocks, and went up to his room.

Soon, he came back down.  He found Gary in the garage and handed him instead his bag of cheese popcorn that he was saving.  

“Here,” Aaron said again.  “I want you to take THIS to the hospital.”

Aaron’s love language has always been giving things to others.  In this case, Aaron won’t verbalize that he is concerned for his dad.  He probably won’t tell Gary that he hopes the surgery goes well.  He many even get frustrated during Gary’s long recovery at home because of the effects it will have on him and what he expects from Gary.

But we have a bag of cheese popcorn that speaks volumes to us of how much Aaron really does care.

And that’s as valuable to us as…as…diamond rocks!

Looking For a Smile

I was standing in the grocery store aisle one day when I noticed someone walking toward me.  I looked up to see an older woman headed my way.  I stepped back out of her way as she came nearer.  I noticed that she seemed to be trudging instead of just walking.  She looked burdened and tired.  Our eyes met and I gave her a smile.  She stopped in her tracks.

“Oh,” she said to me.  “I’ve been looking for a smile all day!  Thank you for giving me a smile!”  

And with that she returned my smile, her happy face beaming.  We talked briefly and left with a God bless you coming from both our joyful faces.  

It cost me nothing to share a smile with this dear lady, yet I felt like a million bucks as I walked away…and I dare say she did as well.

Sometimes smiles come easily.  Solomon talked about that in Proverbs 15:13 when he said, “A glad heart makes a cheerful face.”  

But at other times, I feel more like what Solomon described in the second part of that verse: “…but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.”

Aaron had an epic meltdown last night.  I ended up in joining him on the meltdown wagon.  That’s never a good feeling, for me or him, but especially for me.  My spirit did feel crushed last night with sorrow in my heart.  Guilty, too, and tired.  Gary and I both were spent.

Aaron woke up happy today.  He doesn’t seem to feel the residual effects of these occasions like we do.  Later, he and I went to the store.  There in one of the aisles, I saw two women coming toward us.  In their cart was a little dog.  I knew instantly what Aaron would do.

“Aaron,” I quietly said, “do NOT pet that little dog.  Those ladies may not want you to do that, plus that dog doesn’t know you.”

Aaron, surprisingly, didn’t reach out to pet the dog.  But he craned his neck like Gumby as we walked by, and the ladies couldn’t help but notice.  Then Aaron stopped to stare some more.  

And they smiled.

So, I told them that Aaron loves dogs and asked if he could pet their little guy.

“Of course!” one of them said.

Aaron was very happy, I was relieved and thankful, and the kind ladies smiled and smiled as Aaron gently stroked the dog’s fur.  Turns out his name was Little Bit, which Aaron and I loved.

I thanked them as we parted ways.  Later, as we left the store, we passed one of the ladies and she gave us a sweet, warm smile as she wished us a good day…and I did the same.  

I could tell they liked Aaron and understood that he was special, of course.  This small interaction soothed my sorrowful heart, pushing out most of the sorrow and replacing it with gladness.

This time I was the one in the store with the burden, but two kind ladies took the time to share smiles and Little Bit with a tired mom and a chuckling Aaron.

And I believe God notices more than a little bit those kindnesses that do more than we know to lift a tired heart.

Hurry and Wait!

I’ve written before about how hard it is for Aaron to wait…for anything!  It doesn’t matter if he’s waiting to go to his day group in the mornings, or to Meals on Wheels on Thursdays, or to go shopping, or to watch a program with me, or to eat a favorite meal I’m fixing…waiting is not his strength.

As an example, one night Aaron didn’t want to go to sleep until I came up to bed so that we could do his nighttime routine.  

“Mom!” he said, “when are you coming to bed?”

“I don’t know,” I replied.  “I need to get done with some things, and it’s still early.”

“Well,” he responded, “when you’re done with doing things and it’s done being early, when will that be?”

Oh Aaron.  

He is not easily deterred.

This past Friday night, Aaron was in a tizzy as he was both excited and anxious that his friend Barb, along with her two daughters and a good friend, were coming to take him out for his birthday lunch.  

He wanted to know what time they were coming and then re-affirmed the time over and over.  He talked about where they would eat, what he would order, who was coming, what time should he get up in the morning, etc., etc., etc.

As I was drifting off to sleep, thinking that maybe, just maybe, I would soon hear his steady SLEEPING breaths on the baby monitor on my nightstand, instead it was:

“So first I’ll take my shower in the morning and then I’ll drink my coffee.  Then will I have time to watch a movie, Mom?”

“Mom?”

“Mom?”

 I sure do get plenty of deep breathing exercises.

The next morning, Aaron did take a shower, and he did drink his coffee, but he did NOT watch much of a movie.  Instead, he followed me around the house and then outside as I did some straightening on the porch and in the yard.

He finally got some of his energy out by rocking on the porch, but he is able to multitask, as in talking about waiting while he rocks.

“I just want Barb to come real quick,” he said.  “But she won’t be able to come real quick, right?”

“That’s right,” I replied.

“She just needs to take time, right?” he added.

“That’s right,” I numbly answered.

It was quite for a hopeful minute.

“Does she know how to get here?” he questioned.

I assured him that she did.

He dug in his pocket for his pocket watch.

“It’s 10:43,” he informed me.  “That means it won’t be long till she’s here, right?”

I wanted to tell him that it would be longer than I wanted it to be, but I didn’t.

More deep breathing exercises.

He finally went to sit under the maple tree and crunch mulch in his trash can.  This helps him relax and unwind.  

You have no idea how tempted I was to join him and see if it might do the same for me!

Ahhhh!  Blissful quiet!    

“Mom!  What’s the car of Barb look like?!”

Dear Aaron!

He was beside himself with excitement when the car of Barb pulled into our driveway.  

And he was every bit as excited when the car of Barb brought him home.  He bounded in the house with lots to tell of what they ate and of shopping and of all the goodies he had been given.

We love that these sweet friends gave Aaron a very happy day.

It truly was worth the wait, and not only for Aaron.  

A Big Small Kindness

We were on our way to our daughter and son-in-law’s house one recent evening.  Andrea is struggling with pregnancy nausea.  I asked her if there was something that sounded good to her that we could pick up for supper.  She thought a Burger King Whopper like she had successfully eaten a couple days earlier would work.  

Aaron was going with us and was super excited at Andrea’s choice because a whopper always sounds great to him.  Including him in the supper plans was Aaron’s idea of a perfect plan!  

We went inside to pick up Andrea and Kyle’s order and to place our own.  Aaron was beyond excited, rubbing his hands together and rapidly placing his order before the attendant even had time to ask if he could help us.  

Now, in this moment I can gauge the mindset of workers in restaurants or stores as they encounter an exuberant Aaron.  Some are wary and curious about Aaron, unsure of how to interact with such unusual behavior from an almost 40-year-old balding grown man.  Others are calm and very friendly, with understanding exuding from their demeanor.

This young man behind the counter was the latter.  He was completely relaxed with Aaron, smiling and engaging him in friendly banter.  Aaron recognizes this attitude as well, though he could never sit down and explain it to us.  He just knew that this person was being nice to him, and he reacted with even more talking as he bent over and rubbed his hands together rapidly.  Someday I would not be too surprised to see smoke rising from his hands!

Then Aaron saw the paper Burger King crowns laying on the counter.

“Mom, can I get a crown for Ryker?” he loudly asked.

I said yes as I glanced at the worker.  

“Of course you can,” the young man happily said.  

“Can I have one, too?” Aaron asked.

“You bet!” our new friend replied.

Aaron placed the crown on his head.  Of course, it was too small.

“Here,” the young man said, “let me adjust that for you.”

He reached over the counter, took the crown, made it bigger and then placed it back on Aaron’s head.  

By this time, Aaron was doing his little happy hop, and I thought the kind worker might just join him.

Here was this guy with skull tattoos all up and down his arms, showing love to our Aaron, and I wanted to hug him, skulls and all.

He filled Andrea’s order for a slushy drink.  Aaron’s big eyes lit on that, and he wanted one as well.  I agreed, so our happy worker filled a cup for Aaron.

“Put your card away,” he said as I took out my debit card.  

He wouldn’t hear of me paying for Aaron’s drink.  

I looked into the eyes of our skull tattooed, rather rough looking worker, and saw kindness.

“You have a very kind heart,” I told him.  “Thank you so much.”

“Well, I try,” he replied.

Kindness certainly comes in all shapes, sizes and forms, doesn’t it? 

Aaron pretty much makes an impression everywhere he goes.  But so do those who reach out to him with love and acceptance.  Those people touch our lives more than they know.  

I am so grateful for the love these kind ones share with us as they interact with Aaron.  It’s a love that grows both in our hearts and with others.  

I have experienced great love shown to Aaron from some of the most surprising people.  Some of our Meals on Wheels clients, for instance, live in very difficult circumstances yet they show Aaron a sweet love that is beautiful to see every week.  

Our skull tattooed Burger King worker is not one who would necessarily be the person I would have picked to be such a blessing to us on that day, but he certainly was.  

It’s a huge reminder to me to not assume a person will behave in a certain way based on their looks.  

Sometimes those who may seem like the least according to the world’s standards end up being the ones who really do the most in the ways that count the most.

There’s no such thing as a small kindness in God’s eyes.  He sees each one as big.

And I’m so thankful for those big, small kindnesses in our life with Aaron!

Aaron and The Violinist

A couple months ago, Aaron found a CD in our van that he had not listened to before.  I saw that it was an instrumental CD produced by Chelley Graves.  Chelley is an accomplished violinist who taught our daughter violin for quite a few years. 

Now, Aaron only likes to listen to music that has people singing. Instrumental music is not his interest. He will even skip songs on his CD’s that have no singing, which is very telling since Aaron goes from #1 to the last song without ever skipping a song because one does NOT skip numbers. 

He popped the CD in and sat back to listen as he examined the CD case. It didn’t take long for understanding to sink in.

Aaron: Mom, doesn’t Chelley sing?! (He pronounced her name with the hard CH sound, as in check)

Me: No, Chelley (soft CH) is a violinist. She doesn’t sing on this CD.

I figured that was the end of listening to this CD. But no, Aaron kept listening to song #1, #2, #3, #4. Since you’re not Aaron, I don’t need to keep counting but you get the picture.

I was very pleasantly surprised!

The next morning, as we left the house for his day group, Aaron pushed the rewind button, and we went from #8 all the way down to #1. He wanted to listen to the whole CD again!!

This was AMAZING for Aaron on so many levels!!!!!

This was AMAZING for me on so many levels!!!! 

No more wobbly voiced Elvis, either!!!!

Chelley’s beautiful music was filling our van and making us both very happy!

Aaron was intrigued with the fact that I know Chelley.  One day he told me that he wanted to send her a card to tell her that he liked her music.  I messaged Chelley for her address and Aaron wrote her these precious words.

And then a few days later, Chelley messaged Aaron.  I printed her message and handed it to Aaron.  

I wondered how his face could hold his enormous smile.  

Aaron placed Chelley’s message on his bed with his collection of special items that he carefully arranges on his bed every night, surrounding him while he reads and listens to music before he goes to sleep.  Her letter is also on Aaron’s desk every day, a testament to how special it is for him to be acknowledged.

Chelley has recently been playing her violin at an Italian restaurant in our city one or two nights a week.  So, last night Gary and I took Aaron to this restaurant as a special treat, but also for a very fun surprise.

Chelley knew we were coming.  As we sat in our booth, she came to our table and spoke to Aaron.  He was puzzled at first but when I told him who she was, there was that huge smile again. He told her that he liked her music, and of course then he had to show her his sticker book that he had brought with him. Chelley was so gracious and kind.  

All during our dinner, he would look over at her as he listened to her play so beautifully, and his happiness was once again on his face and in his eyes. 

 

Kindness shown to Aaron means the world to us.  So does the opportunity for Aaron to show kindness to others as he did to Chelley when he wrote her that note.  

We came full circle in a sense, all of us sharing in the joy that Aaron brings in his own unique and uninhibited way.

And here’s hoping for less Elvis and more Chelley!  

Skittles and A Super Bowl Ring

Nearly every day that Aaron is at his day group, one of the staff will take him the short distance down the road to the nearby Quik Trip.  This little outing is the highlight of Aaron’s day.  He loves picking out what food and drink he will buy.  

Aaron especially loves Skittles, but his picky mom (ME!) has told him that he does not need to buy Skittles every day…and he definitely does NOT need to spend the majority of his money on the big bag of Skittles.  A small bag of Skittles a couple times a week is OK.

Aaron has made this rule of Mom’s a big deal.  A very big deal.  He has talked it to death with me…teased relentlessly about buying Skittles when he didn’t buy them…told the staff over and over and over again about how “Mom said NOT to by Skittles!!…and I am quite sure, has talked loudly and clearly to the Quik Trip staff about how his Mom said not to buy Skittles.  

During Christmas, Aaron was taken on his regular trip to Quik Trip.  And guess what?  He was given a special gift from the workers there.

You can probably guess what it was.  

A very BIG container of yummy Skittles!!

Just look at Aaron’s face and you won’t need me to tell you how happy he was.

How I laughed when I saw these pictures!

But more than laughter, I was so touched by the kindness of the Quik Trip workers who obviously have gotten a kick out of talkative Aaron’s Skittles stories. 

What a very nice thing for them to do!

Fast forward now to last week.  Aaron and I had run into our nearby Dillon’s, where he hightailed it to the deli counter as soon as we walked in the door.  I finally caught up to him, only to see him bent over rubbing his hands together and talking loudly in great delight.

“MOM!!” he nearly yelled, “they have Cheddar Pasta Salad today!!!”

Aaron’s love of Cheddar Pasta Salad is well known among the deli staff.  Actually, it’s well known among many of the Dillon’s staff in other departments as well because Aaron makes sure that everybody is at the receiving end of his talking.  

So, on this day I agreed to let him buy a Cheddar Pasta Salad…a LARGE!!…of course!

The very nice woman behind the counter has been getting to know me and Aaron.  She is very patient with Aaron no matter how busy she is.  She has experience with autism because of her own young son.

She happily filled the large container to the brim with the salad while Aaron excitedly oversaw her every move, all the while eagerly talking to her about the upcoming super bowl game.  She told us how busy the deli was as they were preparing platters for the game, and then asked if we would like to see one of the deli trays she had just made.

She showed us the pretty tray and pointed out the super bowl ring that was part of the decoration on the side.  

“Hey Aaron,” she said, “would you like a super bowl ring?”

“Yeah!!” he eagerly answered.

She handed him a ring and he put it right on his finger, a smile spread across his face.  

At Meals on Wheels a couple days later, he wore that ring and showed it to everyone on our route.  

There it was on his finger while we ate our burgers later.  

And I was impressed with how the kindnesses shown to Aaron in these two experiences also show the caring hearts in so many people that cross our paths.  Kindness doesn’t have to come in the form of giving Aaron things, either.

Kindness is also shown by a smile.

Or by not staring at Aaron like he is some sort of oddity.

And certainly, by being willing to listen to Aaron if he happily corners you somewhere with talk of his latest game or book or movie or SKITTLES!!

Being kind to our special son is a huge gift to not only Aaron, but to those of us who love him so much as well.

All our special people will thrive under the sunlight of love and kindness that shines down on them from those we encounter every day.

I am very thankful for those that know this and practice it in our lives. 

Pass the Skittles, Aaron!

My Choice

Well, I can tell you right now that this blog subject won’t be what some people think it’s going to be.  I just realized how this title sounds as I typed it.  Hmmmm…

Anyway, let me pop some bubbles right at the beginning by sharing this sign that is hanging directly above my quiet time/study desk where I sit nearly every morning, coffee in hand and Bible open.

It reminds me that every day I have a choice to make.  Throughout my day I can choose how I will allow the events of the day to affect me. 

And no single person creates more events in my life than Aaron.

In one sole day you might very well find me laughing, crying, yelling, sighing, worrying, cringing, thanking, guessing….

That’s just the condensed version.

 Last week on our Wal-Mart shopping trip, Aaron took off at a fast trot to go check out the candy and nut aisle.  

“Don’t run!” was all I managed to remind him before he was out of earshot.  

I hurriedly completed my shopping.  I then took off at my own fast trot to see what was occurring on aisle 20.

I rounded the corner to this scene.

Add blushing to the list above.

There sat Aaron cross-legged on the floor as he searched the very bottom shelf for something.  Red Hots, I soon learned.  Beside him he had stashed jelly beans, peanuts, and cashews that he hoped I would buy for him.  Also beside him was a very kind associate named, very appropriately, Joy.  

Joy had found Aaron sitting on the floor.  Being concerned, she walked to Aaron and asked if he needed help.  Boy, was Aaron glad to see her!  Usually when he needs (or just thinks he needs) help, he barges toward an associate and pretty much yells, “HEY!!”  

I’m usually found nearby, or a few steps behind, hissing, “AARON!  Don’t say HEY!!  It’s rude!”

By this time, said associate is typically a mix of alarmed and annoyed which soon is replaced by amused. Maybe more amused by the look on my face rather than by Aaron’s?  Very likely.

Back to the candy aisle.  Joy soon found Red Hots up on the very top shelf, which gave Aaron much joy.

Me too.  Oh, my joy didn’t come from the Red Hots.  My joy came from Aaron being so unabashedly Aaron. Aaron’s going to do what Aaron’s going to do, no matter how many times I correct and redirect and follow him around hissing out instructions that he mostly ignores.  

I thought it was just the most perfect thing that this very sweet associate’s name is Joy.  I do believe that God was smiling.  

And again, I was too.  Others around us were very understanding as they waited or turned around.  Aaron has lots of lessons to teach everyone around him, like it or not.

I posted a little piece about this on Facebook and our neighbor across the street sent me this picture.

Here’s what she said:  “Seeing your Facebook post about Aaron sitting on the floor in Wal-Mart reminded me that I took this the other day.  He was excited to come tell me something.  He really does bring joy.  It’s always fun to hear what he’s going to say!”

Aren’t we very blessed?  Our neighbors all around us are great with Aaron.  

I thanked Gina for being so good to listen to Aaron.  I also reminded her that because of this, Aaron will just keep going over.  HaHa!

Well, we had lots of joy going on and it was really sweet.  I was reminded of this verse:

            “A joyful heart is good medicine…”.  (Proverbs 17:22)

And that’s a very good thing because I know my blood pressure was getting somewhat high on Aisle 20.    

Aaron’s Smiles For Others

Yesterday Aaron and I ran into our Dillon’s on the way home from his day group.  I was picking up a few groceries, and Aaron was on the prowl for two things:  candy, and someone to talk to.

He found his candy while I was finding a package of meat.  He sure is a pro at slipping away behind my back.  I’m sure there are dozens of security videos in Dillon’s that show me walking past all the aisles, straining my neck to look down each one as I search for Aaron.

If he’s not loading up his arms with random snacks that he hopes I will buy, he is finding some of the employees there that he knows.  He bounds over to where they are working, oblivious to the fact that they are busy, and loudly greets them and begins talking as if he’s taking right up where they left off three minutes ago. 

With Aaron’s Good and Plenty’s safely in our cart, Aaron followed me across the store toward the cheese aisle.  I could see that, as usual, his eyes were darting right and left as he searched for someone…anyone…that he even vaguely knew so that more than his eyes would dart straight toward them.

And sure enough, he did.

Or at least thought he did…know this particular man, that is.

Thankfully I still have my peripheral vision.  I saw Aaron detour down the self-checkout aisle.  I was doing a U-turn but wasn’t fast enough to intercept Aaron.

Aaron was headed straight toward a man whom he thought was Harold.  But this man was not Harold.  Harold often works in self-checkout.  He is so nice to Aaron, engaging him in conversation every time they see each other. 

“Hi!!” Aaron blurted out as he headed to Harold who wasn’t Harold.

Aaron was rubbing his hands together in delight and he did his little hop of excitement, his left leg extending out.

Harold who wasn’t Harold had a mixed look on his face…a look of moderate shock, confusion, and…was that fear I saw?

But thankfully understanding dawned on this sweet man’s face and he smiled right back at Aaron just as I was beginning the rescue.

The smiling man followed Aaron back toward me as I explained to him that he looked very much like someone else that we know. 

His smile was huge as he patted Aaron on the back and said that it was just fine. 

Bless him!

“I’m embarrassed,” Aaron softly said as we walked once again toward the cheese.

“Oh, Aaron, it’s OK,” I told him.   “That man looked a lot like Harold.  He understood and he was just fine.”

“Well,” Aaron responded, “I can smile at other people, too.”

The coolness of the cheese aisle couldn’t take away the warm glow in my heart that came from Aaron’s words.

“You absolutely can smile at others, Aaron,” I told him.  “Smiling at others is wonderful!”

Aaron deals with so much.  He came home and had a seizure soon after all those smiles.

But smile he will! 

And I can’t think of a better was to start our New Year than to remember Aaron’s words.

We can smile at other people, too.  People we don’t know but people who probably need a kind smile as they walk down the store aisles. 

While I scanned my meat, Aaron’s Good and Plenty’s, and my cheese I finally found, I realized that Aaron wasn’t with me.

You guessed it.

He found the real Harold who was very busy at a nearby register, with Aaron close beside him…Aaron, rubbing his hands together…smiling and talking.

“Oh dear,” I thought.  “I need to rescue Harold.  And the poor puzzled customers.”

“Well, hi there!” Harold said.  “UNCLE!!”

Aaron’s smile was bigger than ever and so was my heart.

Bless Harold and everyone who has a heart for the Aarons of the world.

Let’s all try to share our smiles and to be kind to all the “other people” that we encounter.

Have a Smiling Happy New Year!!