The Kindness of Recognition

"Service is a smile.  It is an acknowledging wave, a reaching handshake, a friendly wink, and a warm hug.  It's these simple acts that matter most, because the greatest service to a human soul has always been the kindness of recognition."
―  Richelle E. Goodrich

The other day I ran into a friend of mine in the grocery store.  She told me that she had seen my children and wanted to find me to say hello.  She gave me a big hug and said how nice it was to see me.  She could not have known that her hug was especially appreciated -- needed even -- on that day. 

I have thought about my friend's kindness several times since then and it keeps making me smile.  That is one of the many amazing things about kindness -- the memory of it wonderfully lingers.