“Dear Jesus, thank you for Mr. Paul. He was awesome”

I introduced my family to a colleague this week.  He gave us a tour of the facility and told stories about all the stuff.  He shared trivia and looked for opportunities to engage the kids, letting them push buttons and grab candy from every jar.  He dug through the tchotchke box, looking for cool swag.  He was engaged with the kids, meeting them where they were, extending himself to make them comfortable.  He knew they were scared of a new place with new people.  He knew the space was not designed for them. He knew because he imagined their perspective.  He has kids, which helped speak at their frequency, but his only magic was empathy.  I was grateful that he made an attempt to make the kids feel comfortable.  Anyone that supports my kids wins my affection. 

That night at dinner, my daughter offered thanks for the table. “Dear Jesus, thank you today and for this dinner and thank you for Mr. Paul.  He was awesome”. 

Clearly Paul had made an impression.  His efforts extended beyond the candy bowl.  Sure, he has a charisma and is gregarious, but the kids meet a lot of people with personality.  He offered a genuine interest in them.  And they knew that he cared for them.  

I’m grateful for Paul and for his interest in my kids.  I’m grateful for the effort he exerted in helping the kids feel comfortable.  

The effort likely required little of him: he went back to his TPS reports and cold coffee, but his mark on my children was indelible. 

Thanks, Paul.  You really are awesome.