‘Thank you for your service.’ At that moment, they weren’t a black man and a white kid.’: Mom shares son’s act of kindness, ‘Take two and a half minutes to show somebody respect’

“I’ve been worrying a lot about the upheaval in the world today.

And as I was thinking about that the other day, I remembered this moment, one that is burned into my memory during my crisis.

My husband Chad had already been diagnosed with cancer. He was already fighting it. And in the middle of that, my son finished the Navy boot camp. The day after, we went to the mall where almost every passing person thanked him for his service.

He told me that while he was appreciative of the gratitude, it made him feel uncomfortable because he didn’t feel like he had done anything at that point to be worthy of it.

So, he sought out somebody who did make him feel comfortable.

Another Navy man.

And my son thanked HIM for his service. The man who came before him and who fought for his country. The man who worked to ensure the same freedoms that my son did sixty years later.

And at that moment, they weren’t a ‘black man and a white kid.’

No, they were two men made of the same cloth. Two men who decided to serve their country. Two men who understood sacrifice. Who understood honor. Who understood challenges and who understood perseverance.

Two men who understood each other.

It didn’t matter their race. It didn’t matter their age. It didn’t matter their opinions.

What mattered was that they respected each other.

For two and a half minutes, they taught the rest of the world a lesson.  A lesson in understanding.

Compassion.

Good will. 

Respect.

I’m thankful for both of them.

I challenge you. For two and a half minutes tomorrow, show respect to somebody. Anybody. 

Who knows, maybe we can change the world 150 seconds at a time.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Diana Register of Meridian, Idaho. Her books “Grief Life” and “Grief & Glitter” are available in print and on kindle. You can find more of her books here, and her podcast here. Connect with Diana on her author Facebook page, and Instagram.

Read more from Diana:

‘After a 9-hour drive home she asked, ‘Can we stop at the cemetery?’ There was no question, no hesitation. ‘Of course,’ he said.’: Bonus dad shares act of kindness for grieving daughter

‘My 15-year-old asked, ‘Mom, can I get a tattoo?’ I let her and no, I don’t care what anybody has to say about it.’: Mom says daughter ‘earned’ tattoo, ‘She showed me what surviving looks like’

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