As I reviewed my Monday morning chore list, my elderly friend came to mind. She lived a lonely existence in a nursing home and needed someone to visit her—someone like me.

I tried to ignore the idea. After all, I had already planned out my morning. And driving across town to encourage an elderly woman wasn’t on my list. But the thought persisted.

While throwing a load of laundry in the washer, I began to think about her again. Once more, however, the demands of the morning won my attention, and I went to the computer to check my email.

After sitting down at my desk, I found it difficult to focus. My mind kept wandering back to my friend. So I grabbed my purse and car keys and headed out the door.

When I got to the nursing home, I spied my friend in the dining room, attending a group session. The receptionist told me that I could interrupt the class to get her. So I did. And I wheeled her to her room.

After settling in her room, my friend sighed and smiled. She told me how glad she was to see me. She then explained that the group class had been playing some silly guessing game about animals.

Smiling, I said, “Looks like I rescued you.”

She chuckled. “Thank you so much.”

Later when my sons came home from school, I told them about my morning at a nursing home. I shared how my elderly friend cried, feeling lonely and discouraged as she faced several difficult hurdles. After listing some of her struggles, I added, “And her hospital bed is broken and her pillow is lumpy.”

Learning to Put Others First

Listening intently, Nate, my 11-year-old, exclaimed, “Mom, your friend can have my pillow. I have two. And I only need one.” Then he bounded out the door to play.

As I rotated the load of laundry, I checked another chore off my list. But then it hit me. If I had ignored the inner tug earlier that morning, I would have missed Monday’s gift: A young boy’s generous heart.