It takes a lot of patience for a person while waiting for a flight at the airport. This is one of the places you would least want to spend the day waiting. Grumpy passengers, expensive restaurants, and long lines at the check-in counters, among others. Most people admit that an airport is a place that ruins their day.
Writer Kevin Armentrout and his 16-month-old baby Carter Jean were waiting for their flight at the airport boarding area. Carter Jean was going around the area, saying hello to everyone she meets, until she came upon a stranger who welcomed her to sit beside him. The stranger took out his tablet and entertained the toddler with some videos, and showed her pictures to draw.
The stranger was Joseph Wright, a sales manager from Oklahoma. He and Carter watched Charlie Brown cartoon videos and drew some pictures on his tablet. She also shared her Cheese Puffs with Joseph. The two strangers immediately bonded, and the heartwarming scene lasted for 45 minutes. At times when Carter became fussy, Joseph did not mind this and carefully coaxed her.
“There were a few moments she screamed and tried to get into his work calendar, but he couldn’t care less,” Carter’s father, Kevin, said.
Moved at the heartwarming scene in front of him, Kevin shared the touching incident on social media and said, “He reached out and asked if she wanted to sit with him. He pulled out his tablet and showed her how to draw with it, they watched cartoons together, and she offered him snacks. This wasn’t a short little exchange. This was 45 minutes. Watching them in that moment, I couldn’t help but think. Of different genders, different races, different generations, and the best of friends. This is the world I want for her.”
Kevin’s post eventually reached Joseph’s friends, who said that he is a kind person, and his interaction with the toddler was totally in character. He loves children, and that love is always reciprocated.
▼ Here are some of the testimonials Joseph’s friends wrote about him:
“I can tell you he is indeed a great man, and he is awesome with kids of all ages!” one wrote.
“I first met Joseph Wright in school in 1976,” said another. “This is exactly how he was then and throughout our years in school… beautiful human being then and now.”
The bond that was instantly built between Joseph and Carter has touched the hearts of many people. They may or may not meet again in the future, but this moment is a reminder of what “kindness and compassion look like.” Kevin’s post has garnered more than 180,000 ‘Likes’ and has been shared more than 70,000 times. Everybody deserves to have a happy moment such as this at least once in their lives.
Images credits: © Kevin Armentrout/Facebook
