The older lady sat in the corner of the waiting area in the airport, her eyes ablaze with nervousness at being in such a busy place and scared to death at the thought of flying. She had never ventured very far away from her home and only on a couple of occasions had she traveled even just a few hours away to visit the city. Now she was getting ready to fly across the country to be with her son for the holidays. She had tried to get out of going but her son’s family insisted that she come out to their home and visit. “Mom”, he finally told her firmly, I’m not taking no for an answer. It will be fine. I’ll take care of all the tickets.”
She had gotten a ride to the airport and now she found herself sitting by herself in the corner waiting for them to call out her flight number. So many people were coming and going, the intercom overhead seemed to be calling out an endless barrage of flight numbers and destinations, all of this was making her even more scared than she had been at the thought of flying out to see her son.
“Hi,” a voice interrupted her thoughts. “Is any one sitting here?”
The older lady turned to see a young man beside her. His hair was a little long and he wore one of those sock hats pulled down over his head. He wore a light jacket opened and she could see a college name on his t shirt. His jeans were holy and he had on some of the wildest socks she had ever seen. She was taken by his question, there were other seats empty around the room but he had asked if the seat next to her was taken. It made her uncomfortable at first, but she didn’t own the seat, she thought, so she responded as pleasantly as she could, “No, I’m all alone in this corner.”
He sat down one seat from her and placed his backpack in the seat between them. “Where are you going?” he asked pleasantly.
She told him she was flying to see her son and his family for the holidays.
“Is this your first time to fly?” He asked.
“Does it show?” she responded laughing. “Yes, and to be honest, I’m scared to death. “
“Let me see your ticket and I’ll go over and check the board to see if your flight is still on time and to be sure that they have not moved the gate you need to be at. I know how confusing flying can me.”
He glanced at her flight number and destination and went over to the board marked “Departures” and returned in just a moment. “Your flight is still on time and you are in the right place. The place where you will show your ticket is right over there and it won’t be much longer.
They sat and talked about her son, her grandkids, how she had lost her husband in the last year and how lonely the house had become since his death. She was excited to see her son and his family she told him but she was also frightened of the unknown of flying.
The announcement came for her flight and he stood up and told her he would walk with her to the boarding area.
“Have a good flight and a wonderful time with your family over the Christmas season” he said as they reached the end of the line.”
“So when does your flight leave? “
“Oh, I flew home this morning from college. I live here.”
“You mean you could have already been on your way home to your family? You gave up your family to sit with a total stranger and help calm her fears.”
Smiling, he spoke these words to her “Know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business.” And with that he waved goodbye.
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