This afternoon, I took my 4-year-old son, Caden, on a quick grocery run to Hy-Vee. We didn’t need much — just a few essentials — but I had a little plan tucked in my back pocket to turn the errand into something more meaningful.

On our way out, I picked up a small bunch of carnations and handed them to Caden.

“Let’s give these out to people,” I told him. “Just to brighten their day.”

He lit up immediately.

With all the confidence and sweetness only a four-year-old can carry, Caden started handing flowers to people as they exited the store. No speeches, no big gestures — just a simple smile, a tiny hand, and a flower.

One by one, shoppers stopped, surprised and touched. You could see their faces shift from confusion to joy as they accepted a little piece of unexpected kindness. Some smiled wide, some paused for a heartfelt thank you. A few even seemed a little teary-eyed.

Then something wonderful happened.

Jamie Stephens, a store manager at Hy-Vee, noticed what we were doing. Instead of just smiling and walking on, she walked right over and asked a question that caught us both off guard:

“Would you like to hand out some more?”

Of course we said yes. Caden was thrilled. Jamie returned with more flowers — and suddenly our small act of kindness had grown bigger, thanks to someone else’s generosity.

As we handed those out too, a few recipients insisted on giving a dollar or two to help “keep it going.” No one was asked to give, but they gave anyway. Not out of obligation, but because kindness has a way of inspiring more kindness.

By the time we finished, Caden turned to me, his cheeks flushed with excitement, and said:

“My heart is happy.”

And honestly? So was mine.

We may never know what kind of day those strangers were having. We don’t know what burdens they carried into the store or what worries were on their minds. But for a brief moment, a four-year-old in sneakers and sticky fingers handed them something simple — and real.

A flower.
A smile.
A reminder that people still care.

Thank you, Jamie Stephens, for turning one little act of giving into something bigger than we expected. And thank you to the strangers who gave, smiled, and let a child’s joy ripple outward.

We hoped to make a few hearts happy today.
And along the way, we found our own happiness, too.