Sweet or Sour?

You know that game you play (or rather, that kids play)? They wave to total strangers and if they wave back, they're "sweet," but if they don't wave back, they're considered "sour?" I was driving this afternoon to pick Ashley up from Drama Camp (it's a day camp), and I was a little stressed out (insert ... not in the best of moods). Then I see hands from the car in front of me wildly gesturing out the windows periodically. I immediately went into my "hypercritical mode:"

• "Don't they know that's dangerous?"
• "Don't they know they could get an arm cut off?"
• "How irresponsible!"
• "Why are they gesturing so wildly, anyway?"

And all of this with a frown on my face (as I said ... not in the best of moods).

As I continued to watch, it dawned on me that they were playing "Sweet or Sour." And it truly was funny to see the expression on people's faces (the ones on the street, at least). Slowly but surely (in spite of myself, I might add!), my frown began to turn upside down, and I found myself smiling.

After a couple more minutes of following them (we just happened to be going the same way), I wanted a piece of the action myself. As I approached the car, I briefly glanced over at them, and this silly, giddy girl with short, blonde, curly hair gives me the biggest smile, and waves frantically at me. I look at the mom in the front seat, and she's smiling at me like she's enjoying it, but she's also embarrassed. I just burst out laughing and waved at the girl. We saw each other again at a stoplight, and she waved at me with the same amount of enthusiasm as before, so of course I waved back and started laughing again. So cool that God used that brief few minutes--and a special little girl who had no idea what she had just done :) to get me out of my funky mood.

I don't actually get how anyone could not wave at kids who play this game. My kids have played it and some people actually frown at them. Maybe it's because I'm a mom (although I don't think so, because I know plenty of grown-ups who aren't parents and they wave), but even if I were in the worst mood, I'm sure I would give at least a half-hearted attempt to wave and smile because I wouldn't want to disappoint a child.