Today, my ritual took me to Sonic for my diet coke. I was tired and needing a few hours for a good long cry - something this week just hasn't allowed so far. Yesterday I had hit that "this can't be real" wall again, and I just needed some kind of strength to finish the rest of this week. Mario greeted me like he always does with a diet coke with just the amount of ice and a lime that had been squeezed into the soda. He knows its a detail that I appreciate. Always smiling, he says good morning as he hands me the soda and then tells me not to work so hard. His soul is always light, always good. However, today he lingered longer at the car window and told me this story.
The other day two men stopped by Sonic. The driver placed their order and as is often the practice of Sonic carhops, Mario introduced himself to the customers when he arrived at the car with their order. At the name "Mario", the driver of the black car said, "Oh my friend, Lisa, talks about you all the time."
Mario continued the conversation allowing that he and I are friends. As the customers received their order and the conversation waned, Mario turned to leave. He said the driver of the car called him back saying, "Mario, you forgot your tip!"
When Mario turned back to the car, the driver handed my friend a one hundred dollar bill and thanked Mario.
Needless to say, Mario was moved. A one hundred dollar tip would be a gift on any day - but that day it was even more of a blessing. That day was Mario's wife's birthday. As parents of young children, they don't have a great deal of extra money and Mario was not going to be able to afford to buy his wife, the mother of his children, a birthday gift.
The tip enabled him to surprise his wife; it warmed his heart.
Tears threatened to spill out of his brown eyes as he said his parting words to me this morning. He said, "This is because..." and there was a pause; I reached for my friend's hand.
"Your girl....she is special."
A friend told me last night in an email to look for her, to see her in the sunlight, or in the starlight, or in the beauty of the day. I don't believe we become omniscient at death; so I don't think Taylor can really come to me. However, I do believe that God knows our hearts and our needs, and when we are afraid or alone on this earth, and we look toward the hills for his light - he will always come; for our help comes from the Lord.
Taylor Renee was all things light and life; I am so thankful to be her mama even if I loathe the days without her. I saw her God-given joy today in Mario's eyes. I saw why I hashtag about this baby girl.
Thank you friend- whoever you are- for pouring light into Mario. Your action today was a remarkable way to #golighttheworld.
Psalm 121