It takes just a little …

A story is told (reportedly true) of a man and a teenage boy who checked in to a hotel and were shown to their room. The two receptionists noted the quiet manner of the guests, and the pale appearance of the boy.

Later the man and boy ate dinner in the hotel restaurant. The staff again noticed the two guests were very quiet, and that the boy seemed disinterested in his food. After eating, the boy returned to his room and the man went to the reception desk and asked to see the manager. The receptionist initially asked if there was a problem with the service or the room, and offered to fix things, but the man replied there was no problem of that sort, and repeated his request. The manager was called and duly appeared. The man asked to speak privately and was taken into the manager’s office.

The man explained he was spending the night in the hotel with his fourteen-year-old son, who was seriously ill, probably terminally so. The boy was soon to undergo therapy, which would cause him to lose his hair. They had come to the hotel to have a break together, and also because the boy planned to shave his head, that night, rather than feel the illness was beating him. The father said he would be shaving his own head also, in support of his son. He asked the staff be respectful when the two of them came to breakfast with their shaved heads. The manager assured the father that he would inform all staff and they would behave appropriately.

The following morning the father and son entered the restaurant for breakfast. There they saw the four male restaurant staff attending to their duties normally … all with shaved heads.

Sometimes we want to do more than we can possibly do. But sometimes a simple bold action can impact a life in more ways than we can measure. It takes just a little caring, a little love, and a little courage with a measure of action.

Scotty