I'm on the front row trying to keep my 1 year old son from going on the stage. My 3 year old is melting down and I'm trying to keep her quiet. I'm bribing them with chips and crackers, pulling them back, shushing them, using every ounce of my strength to hold them and I'm sorry if we're a distraction.
You didn't see the ridiculously late hours we stayed up the last 2 nights, the lack of naps, the traveling. Maybe you saw my desperation, when you handed my daughter that game boy that kept her quite and seated long enough for me to get some pictures of my husband on stage. I was so embarrassed but thankful all at the same time. I kept thinking of all the hateful thoughts that were probably going through your mind about my rowdy kids or lack of parenting skills.
Everything seemed a lot easier and I could breath easy for once. Then the game was no longer working. I pleaded for her to be interested again, that it was just what she wanted. Suddenly you reached down, scooped her up and held her. You just held my 30lb child so I could rest easy and listen to the music. Then when that was getting old, you sat with her and showed her how to bead a necklace like your daughter was doing. I then noticed the 2 boys under the seats to my right, flipping beads across the floor with a spoon. OK so you're not super perfect judgy mom, you are super compassionate mom.
You don't know how much this blessed me, even though I tried to tell you when the concert was over. The love and mercy you poured on me was so overwhelming it still brings me to tears. You were God's hands when I was weary. So even though I don't know you and you will probably never read this, thank you so much for the little things you do because they are huge things for others!