Tolerance, Patience, and Brotherly Kindness

I think my crazy heart experience with Michael has changed me. I feel different. I don't know if I act different, but I feel it deep inside. I feel gratitude, I feel happy, and different love towards people and my children, tolerance, and a different love towards Michael. I love feeling different. And I feel the need more, to help people and to be more understanding of people and where they are coming from. Yesterday Michael and I had an interesting experience. I took my boys to karate after school just like normal. I parked in the only handicap parking spot that was available, cause gosh darn it, I'm going to take advantage of it, cause I deserve it too, and I do have the sticker to show for it. I was getting the boys out and the worker at the dollar store that is next door to the karate studio poked her head out of the front door and said, "You can't park there." I told her, "yes I can, I have a handicap sticker." She then said. "no you can't, this is for dollar store customers." I said, "Sorry, but we won't be here for long", and I walked away. Michael then drove up because he usually meets us there. I mentioned to him what happened and the look in his eye said, watch out dollar store chick! "He said to me, she can't do that you know." And stormed off to talk to her. Michael was very upset, because gosh darn it, he has every right to be upset. I watched him as he stormed into the store, knowing that his intentions were sticking up for me and himself. The dollar store chick wasn't having it and threatened to call the police, which made Michael even more livid. I thought, OK, it's my time to intervene. I felt this overwhelming feeling of peace as I told Michael it was his time to leave and I walked into the dollar store to talk to the lady. She came out with her phone in her hand, obviously very upset. At first she wouldn't listen to me. I explained to her our situation and told her that we were sorry that we had upset her and only wanted her to understand that we weren't just parking there to take away from business but to actually use the space for our benefit. I told her briefly what Michael had just endured this year and told her that there weren't anymore available spots for us. She calmed down a bit after me also explaining that there was no need to call the cops, and that this wasn't something to get so upset over. I told her that I would move my car if it was that upsetting. Tears welled up in her eyes as our experience touched her personally, for she had had cancer twice and shouldn't even be here either. I hated to pull out the 2 emergency open heart surgery card but I felt I needed to, and after she said that, I knew why I did. Empathy goes a long way for people and hopefully after the conversation she will be a little bit more understanding towards people when they park in a handicap parking spot, with a sticker. I went back to the studio where I found Michael fuming. Just so you know, Michael doesn't get upset that much but when he does, there is a good reason behind it. I know the reason for him getting so mad about it but other people don't. I kissed Michael on the cheek and told him nicely that he needed to talk to the lady and apologize for getting so upset and that things were fine now and he needed to be the better person in the situation. Cause gosh darn it people nowadays just get mad too easily over the lamest things. Life is too short, you never know when you will affect someone else. I took Tanner and went home, thinking that he wouldn't talk to her cause when I left him he was still mad and wasn't in the mood to talk to her. He came home calmer and said, "I talked to her, and I'm glad I did." He went in and apologized for getting so upset, and in return she hugged him and was really sweet. Yes, it was dumb, yes, there was no need for anyone to get mad, but it ended well and everyone went home happy. I hope that no matter what I will be the best person I can in every situation, so I can help people and bring peace to people who need it. I love what my trial has done for me. It has made me a better person.