I love this coffee mug.

I know, it’s a little cheesy, with the big heart design on it.

But that’s not the reason I like it so much.

It was December last year, just before Christmas, and I was wandering around the mall, looking at the beautiful Christmas decorations. I saw a store with cute little knickknacks and walked in.

As I was looking around, I spotted this coffee mug on a shelf. There were only two left – one beige and the other grey.

I really liked the beige one, but the heart design on it was a little askew – part of the outline was missing, perhaps due to a printing error.

I picked them both up and took them to the counter. There was a young man there. I asked him in my broken German, mixed with English, whether they had another piece in stock that wasn’t flawed.

At first, he didn’t understand. He thought I was asking whether they had similar cups with different designs on them.

I smiled and tried to explain again that I liked the design, and pointed to where the heart outline was missing.

Ah! He understood.

Let me check, he said (I presume, because he said it in German) and went off.

I saw him go to the back of the store. Then after a few minutes, he came back carrying a step ladder. He climbed up and began rummaging through boxes at the back of a shelf.

Finally, he came back to the counter, and handed me another coffee mug with the design perfectly printed!

I was so happy and grateful. I thanked him profusely.

I completed my purchase and left the shop, feeling so happy and warm.

He could have simply said, “Sorry, those are the last two pieces.” Or he could have shrugged and not have been bothered.

The fact that it was such a small thing made it even more special and heartwarming. He went through a little trouble to get me exactly what I wanted.

A little kindness on his part brought me joy.

And it continues to bring me joy.

Because whenever I use the mug now, I remember his little act of kindness and I smile.