I never liked crowds much. As a boy I grew up in the country with only a few neighbors. Trips to the city were few and far between. I never had a chance to get used to crowds then. When I did encounter them I found them noisy, uncomfortable, and even a bit scary. They seemed full of strangers and even in the midst of them I felt lonely.

All of this would change, however, thanks to a single pair of loving eyes. It happened one day when I was shopping in a mall. The crowds to my dismay were as thick as I had ever seen them. In this sea of people I noticed a little girl holding her Mom's hand coming out of a store. As I looked down at her I could see in her face all of the fear and loneliness that I had in crowds only worse. In that nosy crush of strangers I saw her looking from face to face for comfort. It was then that her eyes met mine. In that moment we both smiled and I felt our souls touch. The fear and loneliness left her eyes and I saw love and joy replace them. Her angelic smile warmed my own heart as well and in that second I could feel a blanket of God's love around us both. We shared a lifetime's friendship in that instant before waving goodbye to each other.

As I walked back to my car too I noticed a change. All of those noisy and busy strangers had suddenly turned into beautiful Children of God. People's eyes sparkled, and their laughter became music. I smiled joyously at it all and wondered what I had been afraid of all those years. I knew, though, that thanks to that little angel I would never feel lonely in crowds again.

I wish that lovely, little girl who helped me have a lifetime of joy without fear and love without loneliness. I know too that I won't be the last person whose eyes she will meet and soul she will touch. She showed me again that we are all God's Children here. She helped me to see too that no matter how crowded our lives get we can still look each other in the eyes and share a smile.

© 2008 Joseph J. Mazzella
Used with permission

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