“Mommy, yesterday our picnic got cancelled.” These were the words that greeted me today.

We had an unfortunate lesson about the consequences of others bad choices on Monday.

We set off around 10 o’clock in the morning for a nice, little hike with our good friends who are about to move to Denver. This would be our last time to see them for a long time. And while we were out exploring the nature preserve, some thug decided he would bash in our car windows and swipe our bags. He took my purse and snagged my friend’s lunch bag and library bag. I assume he thought hers was a purse too, so the joke’s on him. Unless he wanted to read a book while he munched on his stolen goodies…which just makes him an even bigger low life.

We spent the next hour with the police, cancelling credit cards, and consoling three hungry and sad kiddos. Of course, as Mr. Rogers says, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” And sure enough, some guy stopped to patch up our windows, the lady at the bank patiently listened to my six year old recount the events, and we had Gran who empathizes like no one I know. When it was all said and done, there were more people who were caring and good to us yesterday than the one hooligan.

So he may have busted out the back window of my car…which is crazy expensive to replace. He may have stolen Ben’s favorite backpack that I was using as a purse. And he may have scored all my birthday money and gift cards. BUT, no one got hurt and we got to experience the goodwill of many others all day long because of it.

Plus, when my dad got home, he made me a drink and donned the perfect shirt for support.

“I hate rude behavior in a man. I won’t tolerate it.”

-Woodrow Call