what would you do?

Have you ever seen that show What Would You Do?  The crew sets up hidden cameras in a random grocery store or some place, they put you in a situation and see how you react.  Some people are assholes, some people are compassionate.

Well, over the weekend, I was an asshole.

I had just spent 86 hours straight with my toddler.  We played together, ate together, napped together and showered together.  98% of those hours were super.  Seriously.  However the last eight of them were self-combustingly horrible.  Patrick hadn't gotten enough sleep the night before (and that is the answer to any foul behavior with my kid).  We had plans to go to the waterpark with some friends - I knew it could be tough but we decided to go for it. 

I'm talking full-blown tantrums, one after the other, drop-kicking the baby inside my belly.  Trying to put a swimmie and sunscreen on that morning was the worst moment of my life.  "NO DON'T WANT TO."  WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.  ::awful stares from other Moms:: 

Anyways, after calling Jeff that afternoon and calmly explaining to him that I had the potential to purchase an airline ticket to the south of France and would be leaving that evening, he made a wise decision to come home and take Patrick for a couple hours so I could hit up the mall. 

If you know my small city in Ohio you know that the people in our mall can be...different.  Within minutes I see a Mom - she's got a couple ten-year-olds, a screaming toddler, and a screaming infant.  She's pushing a stroller full of bags and one of her ten-year-olds is holding the infant trying to calm him down.  I'm ready to flip out.  Are you kidding?  STOP THE STROLLER.  TAKE YOUR BABY.  FEED HIM.  HELP HIM.  HUG YOUR TODDLER.  But this is what we all think isn't it, seeing this from the outside?  I had no idea her cicumstances nor the dynamics of her family.  I was still pissed though, so I threw my bags over my shoulder and shoved past them as fast as I could.  I can't stand seeing a baby not being taken care of.

That night I couldn't get her off my mind.  I prayed and prayed for her and her family.  I felt horrible that I didn't do anything but judge her parenting and scowl at her.  If I could go back to that situation, I think I would've at least asked if there was anything I could do to help.  Even though she would've probably said "no thanks" and looked at me like I was crazy, I SHOULD HAVE ANYWAY.

Have you ever been in this type of situation?  Or any situation where someone may have needed some help?  Or just wanted to be noticed or addressed with some compassion?  Just needed to know that someone cared??  That another human being felt their stress??

I know for a fact that I will behave differently if I ever encounter something like that again.  No more passing by, no more judging.  It's time to act as Jesus would - by dropping everything and helping.