Some people walk into your life on a random day as angels. On Delta flight 1227, on March 3, 2016, she experienced how beautiful being there for someone can be and what a significant impact it makes. The flight was en route to Detroit from Minneapolis when a random woman on the plane left her with a heart full of gratitude.
Travelling with kids, especially on long flights, can be tough as many fears are attached to it. There is a lot to look after. She had to travel with her twins, who were then just 7 months old, and her two older daughters had to be left behind at home. There was an urgency to travel, as her dad could pass away at any moment, and she wanted to bid him goodbye one last time. So they were newborns; the girls had to be taken with Mom.
The ticket was one-way, so she did not know when she would return, whether in a few days or months. With a heart that she was constantly trying to keep at peace, so much emotional burden, and physical exhaustion, it was a tough day.
Boarding the plane was smooth, but during the layover, the babies were very close to having breakdowns as they had been travelling for hours now. This is because the journey from Washington to Minneapolis was already long, and the wait has worsened. When the plane was mid-air, both girls started crying simultaneously. This was unsurprising for the mother, as she had expected that for a long time, but she had no other option. One of the twins had a routine of crying even at home every day, as she was prone to discomfort; thus, the mother was used to handling the babies.
However, the airplane had over 100 passengers, and the ones sitting near or around were getting annoying. Their stares and judgmental faces said it all. The sighs, comments, and stares embarrassed the mother, and it felt like he was hanging by a thread then.
Breastfeeding the twins was impossible while sitting in a plane, and the plan of bottle feeding them did not work either. Who knew an angel in human form would sit beside her in just a few minutes? There she was! She came, politely sat beside her, and reached out for one of the twins. It was the one prone to discomfort, and mother kept bouncing to calm her down. However, the woman held her with love and care and cradled her for their baby like someone would do.
She took the bottle and hummed a little song for her as she rocked the baby. The love and care reflected in her eyes made it clear how good a human being she was, as no one does this for a stranger on board.
Although a stranger, she was the only passenger on the plane who did not make the mother feel embarrassed or ashamed. She showed pure empathy, which should be the norm in such a situation. What should there be to be ashamed of? The babies or their cries?
She still does not know if it was her kindness or motherly instinct, but realising how much she needed help on that one flight was a huge thing.
Although the mother does not know her name or could not take a picture of the angel, she has and will always have a dear memory of her. Although her face and voice may fade, her thoughtful act will forever have an impact. God chose her to help the mother 35,000 feet mid-air.
