My youngest son has a severe form of Autism. He only says a few words and is in his own world most of the time. Yet, with medication, routines, and a lot of love, support, acceptance, and understanding he has been able to live a happy life here. There is one problem, however, that he still has: he is hard on his clothes ripping threads out of his pants and tearing his shirts. This means that I spend a lot of time in thrift stores looking for cheap clothes to replace them.

The other day I was in one of these stores looking for a blue sweatshirt to replace one he had torn up. As I was walking down an aisle I heard “Come Back Here!” followed by a giggle. A little, three year old girl was running down the aisle laughing and making a break from her Mom. She ran right up to me and held open her arms to be picked up. I saw her Mom smile at us so I picked up the little tike and carried her back to her Mom’s arms. Then I turned the corner and saw an elderly lady stretching up to reach a purse on a super high shelf. I asked if I could help and when she said “yes” got on my tip toes to grab it for her. Finally, I reached the sweatshirts and found one that I knew would make my son laugh with delight when he saw it.

As I walked toward the cashier I saw the older lady paying for her purse with a smile and behind her the little girl jumping up and down with joy, holding her Mom’s hand and carrying an old doll her Mom had found for her. As I took my place in line I suddenly felt a sense of peace, joy, and love fill my heart. I realized that me, my son, that Mom, her girl, and that lady were all one family, in one world, filled with kindness and God’s Love for us all.

Mother Teresa said that “We belong to each other” and Ram Dass wrote, “We are all just walking each other home.” We need to remember that we are all ONE in this world. Only then can we truly live with kindness and Love. Only then can we be who we were meant to be.