The flight attendant let out an exasperated sigh. The plane hadn’t even taken off yet and she was struggling with passengers. While the old woman sitting in front of her looked sweet, she was being very stubborn.
“I’m only going to ask you once more, or I’ll be forced to remove you from the flight!” Just when the flight attendant felt smug with satisfaction, the pilot rushed out. “Do you have any idea who you’re speaking to?” The cold hard facts would shock the entire crew.
It Was A Big Day
Mrs. Wilson had eagerly boarded the flight but it had quickly gone downhill. The sweet 89-year -old woman had waited her entire life to be on an airplane but now she just wanted to leave.
She didn’t know why everyone was yelling or shouting at her and she just wanted to close her eyes and enjoy the ride. Time would slow down while the crew realized who they had been yelling at.
A Memory From The Past
As the frail woman eventually took her seat and people stopped yelling, the passenger sitting next to her noticed how flustered she looked. Due to her age, the gentleman was nervous about her health.
As he watched from the corner of his eye, he saw her purse slip from her hands. The contents spilled on the floor and his eyes popped out of his head when it dawned on him who this was.
Cleaning Up A Mess
Mrs. Wilson dabbed at her forehead. She was sweating and her pulse was hammering in her eardrums. She felt so embarrassed and regretted even getting on the plane. When her purse slipped through her fingers, it was the final humiliation.
She noticed her neighbor's attention falling on her personal belongings and felt her cheeks flush. Would anyone realize what she was holding or who she was after her life fell on the floor around her?
She Never Imagined This Reality
Mrs. Wilson grew up in a rural area of the states. She had never stepped foot in an airport before today and the experience had already been awful. She thought about the silence of her farm and didn’t understand why anyone preferred loud spaces.
As soon as she had arrived at the airport things had not gone to plan. She felt herself losing the nerve to continue this journey. As the man sitting next to her bent to pick up her belongings, she took a final risk…
What Did People See?
Today had been a big day for the elderly woman. She had chosen her best clothes and left the house with her head held high. The more time she spent in the airport, the more she began to feel embarrassed.
It felt like since she entered the airport, people had been rude or tried to avoid her. In fact, these actions had almost caused her to miss her flight! Would she put her faith in this stranger, even after the way everyone else had treated her?
The Opposite Of Customer Service
The woman behind the airline ticket counter instantly doubted Mrs. Wilson was flying business class. After politely asking for her ticket several times, the woman handed it to Mrs. Wilson, but her troubles were far from over.
As she tried to navigate the busy airport she got confused and lost. Several employees walked right by her until one finally helped her to her gate. When she arrived, Mrs. Wilson's body was trembling and fear was creeping into her mind.
Would Anyone Help Her?
When the flight attendant had begun screaming at the older woman, it had taken all of her strength not to burst into tears. This was supposed to be a magical day and a memorable experience. Everywhere she went people had been rude and cruel.
She didn’t know if she could continue this journey and was thrown off guard when the man began to help her. How much could she reveal to him? She stared into his eyes and realized he could salvage the entire experience.
Giving Him A Second Chance
When Mrs. Wilson had first stood at the assigned seats in business class, this gentleman had been shocked she would be sitting next to him. He had loudly exclaimed his shock and dismay that she wasn’t in the economy seating.
At this point, Mrs. Wilson had been close to breaking down. She began to regret ever entering the airport. She hung her head in shame, but someone else wasn’t going to allow this misbehavior to happen.
A Guardian Angel
While most of the passengers in the business class had agreed with the rude man that didn’t want Mrs. Wilson in their section, one younger boy had stood up. He was in shock that they could be so rude to someone older than them.
He accused the man of being disrespectful and offered his seat to Mrs. Wilson so she wouldn’t have to sit next to such a bully. After being put on the spot, Mrs. Wilson’s bully quickly went quiet, and he would continue to be shocked by the words that came out of her mouth.
What Was Inside Her Purse?
Between the flight attendant yelling at her and the other passengers being openly disgusted, Mrs. Wilson had reached her limit. As she took her seat and felt her purse drop, she didn’t know if she could handle any more pain or embarrassment.
She was surprised when the man next to her looked at the picture and then spoke softly. It seemed this photograph had completely changed his perspective, and he was about to move to tears over the following story.
Looking At This Photograph
It was clear the photograph that fell out of her purse was very old. When the man bent forward to pick it up, his jaw dropped to the ground. Mrs. Wilson's face lit up when he handed the photo back.
Eagerly she told him, “That’s a picture of my son!” Suddenly the other passengers hushed. They knew there would be a story attached, but no one knew the surprise ending they were a part to actively participate in!
A Mother’s Choice
Mrs. Wilson had a very tough childhood and lost her father when he fought in the war. Her mother never recovered and grieved for him for the rest of her life. It made it difficult for Mrs. Wilson or Dorothy, to lead a normal life.
When she met her husband, it truly felt like an act of god. He was perfect and kind and even supported her mother with her ailing health. No one could have predicted the consequences of his kindness and their lifelong impacts.
The Honeymoon Period
The young couple quickly got married and moved into a small house with Dorothy’s mother. They were excited to find out that they were expecting a baby, but the time timing was horrible.
Dorothy’s mother was diagnosed with dementia and she had begun to have violent flashbacks and outbursts. At times she would be so disoriented that she would attack Dorothy! The baby’s life was at risk, but Dorothy could not abandon her mother, even if her life depended on it.
A Massive Sacrifice
Throughout Dorothy’s pregnancy, she lived in constant fear. She hoped that once the baby arrived her mother would calm down, but the child’s cries only irritated her further. She made the tough choice to give her son to an orphanage.
Dorothy had to do it to protect her child but as she drove away she vowed to one day get him back. After several years her mother passed, and Dorothy realized she could have a second chance until fate intervened.
Anonymously Adopted
When Dorothy returned to the orphanage she couldn’t believe the news. Her son had been adopted and there was no paper trail leading to his new family. It was the final blow from fate and Dorothy resigned to live her life alone.
Over the years technology continued to grow and impress everyone. As Dorothy was scrolling the internet one day, she found a website that would answer her prayers in the most unusual way.
The Only Way She Knew How
The organization that Dorothy found specialized in connecting parents with their children who had been adopted. When she told them her story they agreed to help her free of charge.
Dorothy took a big breath and faced the other passenger on the plane. She spoke quietly, “My son is flying this plane. I still haven’t had a chance to meet him, but all I was hoping for was one glance.” Quietly a flight attendant slipped into the cockpit and began whispering in the captain's ear.
Everyone Was Moved To Tears
As Dorothy’s story came to an end, the other passengers were shocked. They couldn’t believe how much this woman had endured and how they had treated her. This was a monumental day, and they had belittled her at every chance.
Just as the man sitting next to her opened his mouth to apologize, an announcement began. A male voice smoothly spoke into the speaker, but they were words Dorothy had waited a lifetime to hear.
We Can All Learn Something
The announcement began, “Attention all passengers, this is your captain speaking. Just like this flight, our lives are full of ups and downs. It is my understanding that there was confusion over seating when this flight began.”
The man sitting next to Dorothy instantly turned bright red. He was completely ashamed of how he acted before hearing Dorothy’s story. The captain would teach everyone a lesson they would never forget.
A Standing Ovation
The captain continued, “We all get opportunities in this life, and we can’t hold grudges, even if it’s something we don’t understand. Life is too short.” Dorothy held her breath. She couldn’t believe the words she was hearing decades later.
My mother is flying with us today, and I just want to tell her I love her very much and I have forgiven her a long time ago.” The plane erupted into cheers and Dorothy was able to hold her head high. She turned to her neighbor and proudly said, “That’s my son.”