Similar to many mothers, Hailey is a woman with a bustling schedule—juggling the roles of a devoted wife, a busy mother, and a compassionate community member.
Her days are filled with tasks like grocery shopping, managing household chores, taking care of the kids, and maintaining her blog, Thoughts, Dots, and Tots. “Free time” is a luxury she rarely gets to enjoy.
One particular day, while rushing to work, Hailey found herself stuck behind a slow-moving truck struggling to reach the speed limit. Despite her urgency, she tried to control her frustration.
It was only when she pulled up closer to the truck at a stoplight that she discovered the reason for the slow pace—a sign on the back window that read, “Learning stick sorry for any delay.”
In a heartfelt and viral Facebook post, Hailey shared her realization and the impact it had on her perspective:
“As I was pulling into work, I was following this car. The sign in the back window said, ‘Learning stick sorry for any delay.’ Knowing this information, I was very patient with their slow shifting, and honestly, they were doing pretty well for still learning. Then I asked myself a tough question: Would I have been just as patient if the sign hadn’t been there? I can almost definitely say no.
We don’t know what someone is going through. We don’t wear signs that illustrate our personal struggles. You don’t see signs taped to people’s shirts that say, ‘Going through a divorce,’ or ‘Lost a child,’ or ‘Feeling depressed,’ or ‘Diagnosed with cancer.’ If we could read visually what those around us are going through, we would definitely be nicer. But we shouldn’t have to see signs and have reasons to treat strangers with kindness. We should do it anyway, whether we know what is going on or not. Whether they deserve it or not. Let’s give everyone an extra dose of patience, kindness, and love…”
This simple yet powerful message scrawled on the back of the truck left a lasting impression on Hailey, prompting her to choose tolerance over frustration.
This story serves as a poignant reminder that, no matter how occupied we are, maintaining compassion for those around us should never be compromised.
Feel free to SHARE this story with your family and friends on Facebook.
