I was at the grocery the other day when I heard a loud wail in the aisle next to mine. I went over to take a look and saw that it was a very small child, 2 years old at the most, loudly and tearfully showing her displeasure at her mother's refusal to buy her a colorful and plastic toy.

There were a lot of customers, and I could see the mother furiously hissing at the child to stop screaming. This made the child cry all the harder. I could sense that the mother was nearing the end of her patience. It seemed that no matter what she did, the child would not stop. She was embarrassed at being the center of attention, and frustrated at her inability to console the child. Her impatience and anger was certainly not helping her daughter.

I was at a loss what to do. Should I go and try to comfort the child? Will the mother even welcome it? I stood there, ears ringing with the child's wail and debating what to do when the matter was taken from my hands. An elderly woman approached, stooped down to look at the child, and smiled at her.

Then she said to the mother, quite clearly. "You have such a beautiful girl. You are so lucky." She then went to the cashier, paid for her purchases, and left.

I looked at the mother, and I saw a small smile of gratitude in her face. She bent to the child and hugged her without saying anything. The child gradually stopped crying and nestled on her mother's chest. It happened in just a few minutes. I was amazed at how a simple act of kindness could touch a mother's heart and affect her relationship with her daughter. It certainly proved to me that when it comes to a good deed, every little bit counts.