Yesterday, I was at the grocery store buying myself supper. I actually borrowed money from my boss/friend because I was totally broke. On my way out, there was a lady there who looked to be in her thirties with a little girl about nine or ten years old. They had a ridiculous amount of bags filled with empty cans. We get a five cent refund for each can returned. Although they had
a lot of cans, their refund most likely only added up to a few dollars.
Maybe they were just doing some spring cleaning, but when I bring that many cans or bottles for refunds, it's generally because I really need money for something. (Sometimes I'll spend all a lot of time collecting my cans and counting it all out so that I can afford a loaf of bread to eat.)
Seeing the two of them there really struck me. I walked by them, out of the store, and got almost half way home. I couldn't stop wondering about them. I reached into my pocket and confirmed that I had 10 dollars left of the money I had borrowed for my own supper.
So I walked back to the store and was about to give her the $10, but I was really shy. I didn't want to offend her. Maybe she didn't really need it. So I walked back out.
I made it a few steps away from the store, then turned back around and walked back in. As soon as I saw the mother and daughter, I chickened out again. Then I proceeded to repeat this a couple more times. (By this point, I was feeling pretty silly.)
I had given up (again), and was going to go back home, when I noticed one of the cashiers from the grocery store outside getting ready to go home. I asked her to give the lady the money for me.
She thought it was strange and asked me why. I just said that I "needed" to pay it forward to a stranger and that it was hard to explain. She asked me to stay there in case she didn't want to accept it, but I replied, "She has no choice, and I'm leaving right now anyway!"
I watched the cashier go to her, and then I left immediately.
I have no idea what happened-- if it helped or was appreciated-- but, either way, my conscious is clear!
Thank you for reading. And thanks even more for having inspired me so much to want to try small acts like this!
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- Posted by DigitalMind
- Sep 12, 2013
- Comments (17)
Readers Comments
shera_55716 wrote: This story is remarkable and helped me and our family make happy.
sylvia wrote: That is realy taughy and blessing i really appreciate your powerfull contribution to her life. " it say give and it shall be given back to you.
K wrote: Beautiful story. I have come to realize that god is the gift, the giver and the one who receives and because we live and move and have our being in the one, we all get the privilege of experiencing all the parts.
Brendan wrote: Great stories on random acts of kindness. And no, i don't subscribe to the cynical, so called truism, that "no random act of kindness goes unpunished" in fact i cant get my head around this nonsense. Perhaps i am at the age that is just beginning to learn that love in any and all its manifestations is really what it's all about. Tho' at 72, if i have any real regrets in the philosophy of "love thy neighbor as thy self", it's that i didn't have the good sense to practice it when i was a much younger man.
Valerie wrote: It doesn't matter whether she needed the money or not. Just knowing that someone noticed her, and thought to gift her in some way, probably made her day. I know it would make mine, and i don't need the money. Just knowing there is a kind heart out there, walking among us, would make me think about how i could make someone else's day. Bless you.
vice wrote:
First of all, am just short of words i don't know what to say, am so grateful to dr aduga for what he has done for me. At first i thought he was a scam like two others that i worked with, but i just decided to contact him then he told me that my lover will be back home within 4days. When the 4 days completed my husband called me and said he was sorry for the frequent argument and fight, i was so happy that my husband who left me for over 2 years called me. Now we are together he can't do without me, he always wants me to be by his side and he just bought me a new car. If you want to contact him for help, his email is dr adugasolutiontemple@hotmail. Com
First of all, am just short of words i don't know what to say, am so grateful to dr aduga for what he has done for me. At first i thought he was a scam like two others that i worked with, but i just decided to contact him then he told me that my lover will be back home within 4days. When the 4 days completed my husband called me and said he was sorry for the frequent argument and fight, i was so happy that my husband who left me for over 2 years called me. Now we are together he can't do without me, he always wants me to be by his side and he just bought me a new car. If you want to contact him for help, his email is dr adugasolutiontemple@hotmail. Com
matta wrote:
Thanks for making my family happy again, my father came back home and he can even take us out, something he never think of before! I wonder dr egbenakheu are you god or what? Amazing you make things happen! I will. Thank you very much. From holland if you need his help contact email address dr egbenakhuespelltimple@gmail. Com
Thanks for making my family happy again, my father came back home and he can even take us out, something he never think of before! I wonder dr egbenakheu are you god or what? Amazing you make things happen! I will. Thank you very much. From holland if you need his help contact email address dr egbenakhuespelltimple@gmail. Com
shadedragon wrote: So sweet and its wonderful that you were able to overcome that obstacle! You are an incredible person, and i'm sure that no matter what happened, that money helped in some way and made their day :)
sandra wrote: That is the type of an act of kindness that i like to read about. And i don't think it was your ego that gave you a problem so much as stepping out of the norm. Most of us mothers have been in a position where we needed that kindness; god will bless you for doing your part.
2bkind wrote: I too am cautious about doing random acts of kindness! I made a couple of smile notes to place on cars or something. When i went to distribute them i froze up because i thought someone might see me and ask me to stop. Silly isn't it? Got to let go of the ego!
