Small gestures

 
Today I observed an elderly lady exiting the main building here at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital, where I've been working the last week or so. She was on one of those underarm crutches while her other hand/arm balanced a full tray of something and held both a shopping bag and her handbag.

"Excuse me Ma'am, can I help you get where you're going or are you ok?"

She looked up and smiled.

"What a delightful young man you are. Thank you but I'm an independent, stubborn old woman and I'll be just fine."

I'm reminded just how gratifying a simple, polite gesture can be.