It began as a pleasant evening at home. But with one act of tenderness it quickly became a cloud nine kind of night.

On a recent Saturday, my husband and I were relaxing at home, hanging out with the dog and watching television.  

When my phone rang, I realized it was a FaceTime call from my son. “What?!?! Why does it always happen that he decides to FaceTime when I’m looking my worst?” That was my first thought.  

And before I could respond to the call, I had my second thought. “Wait a minute! Both sons are together with their ladies at a concert. Why are they FaceTiming now?”

I touched the “accept” button to answer the call, but the screen remained dark. They were outdoors and night had fallen, making it impossible to distinguish any of the four faces I’d expected to see. 

When I started to hear the music, it all became clear to me. They repositioned the phone, and I could sort of make out the view of the large amphitheater stage in Virginia. It was The Avett Brothers, and they were performing one of my favorite songs, “No Hard Feelings.”

We had no conversation. Instead, we all just took in the performance with a sort of reverence, softly singing along at times. I watched the image of the stage swaying gently back and forth, and I realized the kids were dancing and savoring the beauty of the moment. Hundreds of miles away I was doing the same.

The song ended, and I joined in the cheering and applause on the other end of the line. Quick goodbyes immediately followed with the promise of talking again soon.

I settled back in my chair, allowing the full impact of our brief moment to wash over me. Their call brought me closer to them and left me feeling both thrilled and cherished.

But there was something else. As I sat there savoring and soaking it all up, I began to reflect on the countless times I’ve thought of reaching out to someone. I’ve often had good intentions, but failed to follow through. So many missed opportunities to uplift another person because I was preoccupied with my own concerns and busyness.

I could learn a lot from those four young people. Spending an evening out together, they were experiencing something they knew was dear to me. They thought of me, and they stopped what they were doing long enough to let me share in the event.

By some standards, their effort was a small gesture. To me, it was the gift of a precious, poignant moment I won’t forget.

Ultimately, it led me to this epiphany: Blissful experiences like that one are infinite. All I have to do is be present enough to recognize such tenderheartedness when it comes my way.  

Furthermore, it helped me realize I can be a vital contributor of joy for others. I need to live with a keener awareness of the countless chances I have to reach out and connect and offer my own gifts of love. And when I actually follow through on those mindful intentions, I help make a way for joy to grow.

Imagine the seismic shift in our world if we would all commit to making joy infectious! Starting with the vibrations created by our efforts, when we lead with love and joy, we can make it happen!