The little old lady sat on the park bench looking far older than all of her 68 years combined.  Her face was tired and worn and her hands were covered in the most hideous bumps and bruises.  Even to the most unobservant of passersby; it was clear she had obviously led a difficult life. 

All the same, it seemed as if no one was willing to spare her the time of day to stop and chat with her for a few minutes - or even spare a kind word as they all too quickly passed her by. Too enthralled as they were; with the goings on in their own little worlds.

There had once been a time when her looks could have stopped just about anyone fast in their tracks.  But her beauty had long since faded and the sparkle in her eyes was simply no longer there.  All the joy and laughter she had once felt replaced instead by worries; concerns and a sense of longing. 

A longing for a polite "Good Morning" or a "Do you mind if I sit there?" or even "Isn't it a lovely day?"  All she ever heard instead though were hurtful whispers from the people passing her by making comments about how sad, old, run-down or alone she looked.

The strange thing was; that every time she heard such things said about her, her body would become ever more tired, crouched and weary looking.  Almost as if the words themselves were cutting away at her like a sharp pair of scissors.  What made it far worse was that despite the sun shining as bright as bright could be most days in the park. 

Her old heart was perpetually filled with a dark cloud of sadness and despair.  Usually as a direct result of her lamenting about lost loves; opportunities and past friends that had long since passed through her life like the sands of time. 

Sure, she would have an occasional good day as well.  Were she'd recall nothing more than dancing, moonlight, friendship and romance.  But these were sadly a rare and rapidly diminishing occurence.

Then one day something really surprising happened.  A little girl called Ava walked into the park and ran right up to her with her arms outstretched.  "Look mummy" she shouted out gleefully. "It's one of God's beautiful angels." 

The mere touch of the child as she threw her arms around the little old lady sent shock waves running right through her body - from the very tip of her toes; right through to the top of her head.  She simply couldn't recall feeling as alive in years!

"I'm so happy to meet you Christy" she continued.  "I've read so much about you at school and in books and stuff.  But to meet you myself is just so wonderful."  The little old lady was filled with such happiness and was smiling so uncontrollably that she didn't seem to notice how her body was no longer crouched over; or her hair quite as gray as it was only a matter of minutes ago.   

"I'm just sorry my many friends couldn't be here with me as I'm sure they'd all love to meet you as well.  Plus you have the most beautiful smile I've ever seen." She continued giggling happily.

"Ava" shouted the little girl's mum Liz in feigned annoyance; "Come and leave that lady in peace I tell you.  Besides, we need to go and pick your brother Jason up from school."  Waving frantically as she did for the child to do as she was told. 

"Ok mum!" Ava called back with the largest smile Christy had ever seen on a child.  And as she did so; the little old lady noticed something unusual in the child's eyes.  Almost as if they had being touched by the hands of God himself!

"I'm sorry I have to go now." She politely said to the little old lady before running off as fast as her tiny legs would carry her.  Christy didn't even have the chance to tell her how nice it had been meeting her that day.  So instead, she just smiled and waved back at the nicest little girl she had ever met in her life with nothing but total love in her heart.

The strangest thing of all though; was that every time someone walked passed her sitting on her loyal and trusted bench that day; they all commented on how beautiful a day it was as they threw her the most cheerful and heartfelt greetings her way.  So, the longer she sat there, the better she felt.

A few hours later, as she walked through the park on her way home, she quickly glanced at herself in a mirror and was shocked to see that she now looked almost twenty years younger than she actually was.  Strangely enough, the little girl's voice rang in her ears at the same time.  "I was so happy to meet you Christy."

Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes; for she had never once told the little girl her name, but she was sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that she had indeed met one of God's beautiful little angels that day.  Only the angel was Ava not she.  Remember then; that kindness costs nothing and can make a whole world of difference in people's lives.  Both young and old!  Smile and greet all that you meet today with genuine happiness in your voice.


(C) Charles Anthony McFaulds