Sometimes We All Need A Little Support

--by Jellybean, posted Sep 30, 2009

I will never forget a special trip to the grocery store a couple of years ago. My father had just recently passed away. I was missing him terribly and rarely getting through a day without crying. I needed to pull myself together to get some groceries for my husband and young children.

As I entered the store, I immediately had to control my emotions as the sweet aroma of my Daddy's favorite cinnamon buns made there at our local grocery store drifted throughout the store. I made my way up and down the busy aisles and filled my cart as I read my list, which I had prepared that morning. I was approaching the in-store bakery when I just couldn't control myself any longer. I held the cart and quietly cried as I looked at the plump, gooey cinnamon buns in the case.

An older gentleman came to my side and simply said, "Would you like me to stand here with you for a moment dear?" I nodded, "Yes," and the kind man simply put his hand on top of mine, and stood there quietly supporting me as I cried. Once I gathered myself, I looked into this wonderful man's kind blue eyes and thanked him, explaining that I had just lost my father. He simply said that there had been moments in his life too, where he just needed to cry. He then walked away.

I was so very touched by this man. I realized that too many times, we see someone sad and make assumptions about their stability or the happenings in their life, when really we should recognize that we are ALL human, and sometimes just need a little support.

I looked again in the store for this man before leaving, and could not find him. I hope that maybe he, or someone who has done this same thing reads this and learns how the gesture truly touched, and warmed the heart of another.

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Posted by Jellybean
Sep 30, 2009
Comments (23)

Readers Comments

oldgirl wrote: There are times when we all have a sad moment but for some reason many people turn away (perhaps embarrassment) when they see an adult crying. Crying is an emotion just as a smile is yet we do not turn away when someone gives a smile!

Thankfully that wonderful man was there in your time of need to support and comfort you jellybean.

Sorry for the loss of your father jellybean. It is a loss that will always be with you but i hope that since then you are coping better.

Marx wrote: This article was used in our english exam~~~~~

He Juncen wrote: 阳光总在风雨后，加油！we are together!

kemi ayegbusi wrote: Yes dearie. I had the same experince when i lost my dad. We all need a shoukder to weep on when we are sad. The greatest kindness is to always be there in time of need

kellie wrote: What a lovely story tyank you for sharing that with us all x

JeanieMarie wrote: Thank you so much for sharing your story, and his. It's a wonderful example of how we can touch kindly another hurting person without being overbearing or pushy. This was a great lesson for me & i hope i can be this kind to someone in need. God bless you and him!

Eby wrote: My dear, as i read your story, i cried and cried. Be assured that somebody like me loves you and will continue to pray for you. Death is a natural occurance, we must always learn to endure especially when somebody we love most is gone. Cheer up for your daddy's sake for i believe he will not be happy to see you sad for the rest of your life. At least you have your loving husband and children to look after. It is well my love.

intzarakhan wrote: Good to read! But are there many people like this in this world?

Cuquis wrote: As i was reading your story, i was crying. Loosing somebody is a huge pain. I lost my father thirty seven years ago /when i was seven) and i still miss him a lot.

Sands wrote: This story reminded me of something that happened to me many years ago. I was on a flight to new york wiht my two sons - having been through many hard years as a single parent, i had promised us a trip to ny on my 40th and my eldest son's 21st & my younger son's 18th! So there we were on our way. As i came out of the rsetroom on the plane, i noticed a woman (probably in her mid-30s) standing and sobbing. People (including the flight attendents were just walking past her. I got up & walked back to her & said "i don't know what's wrong, but can i give you a hug"! The woman held on to me like a long lost relative and cried for at least 5 minutes. She just sobbed and sobbed. I did nothing but hold her & gently stroke her back. After she had calmed down, she said thanks. I said "no problem" and came back to my seat. A couple of hours later, she came up to me & said she had just arrived at heathrow, got through customs and to her hotel when she and her husband had a call from the states saying her father had died. They had been in london (a trip they had planned for 10 years! ) for 12 hours and they were now flying back again. Sitting there and thinking through my past. Life didn't seem that bad as my sons sat beside me sharing cake & champagne as a start to our celebrations!

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