I listen to Havana Brown singing “if we spread a little love, we’ll never die” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WMkUZan-oo) and I am reminded of an incident on a  flight to Johannesburg.

 I’d like to share it with you:

I am doing my normal “landing ritual” – pack away laptop, take out makeup purse, put lipstick on, rub cream on my hands….

A lady on the opposite side of the ‘plane, one row in front of me, gets out of her isle seat and makes eye contact with me as she turns around.  With her lips she forms the words “I’d like to ask you something”.  She moves into the half empty row behind me to reach me in my window seat.

“Can I perhaps use some of your lipstick?  I will use my finger to put it on.  I have just washed my hands” (Yes, I saw her come out of the bathroom cubicle)…

‘I have 2 lipsticks in my makeup purse, but neither colours will look good against your skin tone…’ my image consultant mind thinks, but I give her the one I just used.

“Put on some more” …I tell her.

“That looks pretty” …I hear myself say.

She responds with a soft voice:

“We are meeting a friend at the airport whom we have not seen in a very long time.  I had to pack so quickly I forgot my lipstick.  My husband is very ill …with cancer” (Yes, I saw him before we boarded – pale, fragile and weak.  I wondered about him…)

With tear filled eyes she stretches her hand out to me:  “I am going through a very tough time.  He can hardly walk”.  (Yes, I saw that too …just like my dad at the moment…)

Spontaneously I take her hand between both of mine and squeeze it against my cheek. Fighting my own tears I can only say “I will think of you”…

She leaves.  I stare out of my little ‘plane window to God’s creation on the outside and I pray for her:

for strength, peace and that through our hands touching, I could pass on some of God’s amazing love I am so privileged to experience!

God reminded me today that ‘spreading a little love’ has a huge impact – not only on the receiver, but also on the giver…

I will keep on thinking about her!