David Rosenman is a man who carries a high position as an assistant professor and physician in Rochester, MN. First and foremost, however, he is a father that has two young children. Recently, he took his nine-year-old daughter out for breakfast at a local coffee shop but he never expected to have such an incredible story to tell when all things were said and done.
The plan was all laid out for when they arrived at the restaurant. David was going to read the newspaper while his daughter worked on a knitting project. Although that was the plan, it didn’t exactly go that way because the daughter wanted to know if they could just be together. Now, David could have brushed her off and started reading but he spent the entire lunch devoted to his little girl. They laughed, joked around and shared stories with each other.
Prior to leaving the restaurant, David went to pay his bill but when he came back, he found a strange note sitting on the table. He picked up the note and an anonymous message from a stranger took him by surprise. In fact, those words were so profound in his life that he shared them on Facebook.
Since that share, over 10,000 other individuals have shared his story and you’re about to find out why…
“Dear Fellow Human Beings,
This morning, at her request, I took our 9-year-old daughter to a coffee shop. She brought with her a little crocheting activity; I brought the newspaper, a notebook & pen, and my phone. This was going to be an outing not unlike others we’d had before: while sitting at the same table, we’d do our own things – she’d keep herself occupied with something, and I’d catch-up on emails, organize my week, get work done, etc. Sound familiar?
Today, she made one additional request: ‘Daddy, can you not read the paper or doodle or check email today? Can we just be together?’ I’m not trying to be melodramatic; that was her question.”
“So today, we were together. She showed me her yarn project. I recalled the day she was born. We compared notes about whether or not couples at other tables were on “dates” (she likes to impersonate people on dates – resting her smiling face on her hand and practicing a starry-eyed stare). She told me about her friends and their hamsters. I watched her chew her breakfast sandwich and melted a little bit as I thought about how much I love her.
I wished it hadn’t taken her past experience and her courageous reaching out for me to give her the attention she so wanted and needed.”
“Before we left, I went up to the counter to order a take-out snack for her brother. When I returned to our table, there was a note, left face-down, in front of my seat. My daughter told me that a woman, before leaving the coffee shop, had asked her if I was her father and said that the message was for me. I looked around (nobody was there) and flipped over the paper to find the words below.
This anonymous message was enough of a reinforcement for me, that I hope more people might be guided by its power and by its author’s thoughtfulness.”
“Please don’t wait for your child or other loved one to plead for your attention like mine did – he or she might not. Expect that no one will leave a note for you – such beauty in this world is far too rare. I invite you to share the gift of this experience with me: choose to be present today – even for just a little while – for someone you love. If you see it happen somewhere, consider leaving a note – it sure does leave an impression.
– David”
What a powerful message this man had to share and he certainly paints a heartwarming picture for us. Please take a moment to share this with others so they can enjoy it as well.
(Images: Facebook/David Rosenman, Lost in Holland, Flicker / Alexandria Lentz)