As a father carried his sick 6-year-old daughter, who was getting ready for her 7th chemotherapy treatment, a man suddenly screamed at him to stop carrying his “lazy” child. The dad felt tempted to yell at the man in response, but what he did instead made this rude stranger break down in tears.
Brent Gehring’s daughter Emma (Photo Credit: Facebook)
Brent Gehring was leaving the Union Oyster House in Boston, Massachusetts, with his 6-year-old daughter Emma one night when a man’s mean random comments left him shocked. The father and daughter had just finished eating dinner together, which was donated to them by an “amazing business and friend that has been in our ‘family’ for years,” Brent explained, however the special night would be cut short, thanks to this nasty stranger.
As Brent crossed the street, he carried his small daughter Emma in his arms. Brent has had to be there for his daughter as she bravely fought cancer for for almost all of her life. The strong girl, who was about to begin her seventh round of chemotherapy because of a brain tumor, isn’t able to walk on her own without the use of her walker. So randomly, a strange, who was 30 feet away as Brent carried his frail daughter in his arms, didn’t know this as he yelled, “What the f*ck? Make her walk. That’s what is wrong with kids today!”
Brent Gehring’s daughter Emma (Photo Credit: Facebook)
That’s when Brent realized he had a choice. He could make himself feel better by screaming back at the rude stranger or he could teach him something about life. “I won’t lie to you and tell you that it was an easy choice, but I got inches from his face, with my daughter in my arms, and quietly asked him if he was referring to my daughter. ‘Hell yes,’ he said,” Brent recalled in a Facebook post.
“My daughter has been carrying my faith and my strength for the past 5 years since she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She can’t walk but I am happy to carry her because of all the amazing things she has taught me through the years. So, I would advise you not address my daughter in any way other than respectful,” Brent boldly responded.
Brent Gehring with his daughter Emma, who has battled cancer for most of her young life. (Photo Credit: Facebook)
“I won’t tell you the rest of the story but it ended with two grown men with tears rolling down their faces. One that needed to have his eyes opened to what real life and real love is and one that is always needing a reminder that good can come from any situation,” the father added.
Brent didn’t just share his story on Facebook to simply recall what happened. The purpose was much deeper than that. “What I am asking is for a change in today’s world,” Brent wrote, “a change in the way we think.” He continued, “The world is what we as people make it. We have the power to make days better or worse for others. I choose to attempt to make lives better.”
Brent Gehring’s daughter Emma (Photo Credit: Facebook)
Then, he explained why this story is important: It serves as a reminder that we don’t always know the whole story when we see someone and immediately jump to a conclusion. There aren’t many of us who walk down the street without making some kind of judgment about complete strangers, often without stopping to consider why. It’s human nature to assess the situations around us and form an opinion. But, sometimes, we are so greatly mistaken.
“So, don’t judge others,” Brent warned. “You have the power to make people’s days better or worse. What did you do today? What will you do tomorrow?” he asked. “I promise you this, through hell and high water, Emma has made each and every day of my life a blessing. I praise God for bringing her into my life. Emma, you are perfect just as you are, and we will help carry you through chemo #7.”
Brent Gehring’s daughter Emma (Photo Credit: Facebook)
As humans, we reason. We collect information, we form opinions, and we draw conclusions. This is how we determine right and wrong. We judge behavior, circumstances, and actions. That’s not a problem. However, we must be careful to show compassion and discernment. It’s not fun to be on the receiving end of bad judgment, like Brent and his daughter.
Regardless of the conclusion that we come to when we see a stranger on the street, shouting at and berating them is never the appropriate response. Thankfully, instead of responding in anger, Brent decided to teach the man the error of his ways, and the end result was pretty amazing since it provided a much-needed reminder for the rest of us too. We should draw our conclusions humbly and our judgments should be made with the intent of helping others, not elevating ourselves. In everything, we must be motivated by love.
