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I was going through my wallet in the grocery line to pay for the groceries I had selected when I noticed the woman behind me counting coins to pay for the little that she was purchasing. So, I turned to her and said, "I'll pay for it for you."
She looked up at me with hurt pride and said, "No thank you!"
I felt really humbled and disappointed. As I payed for my own groceries the cashier asked if I had some coins to pay for part of my bill so she would not have to change the larger note I offered.
I did not.
The woman behind me reached forward with a quarter and said, "You can take it out of this."
I was stunned. She could hardly pay for her groceries but she was willing to offer her quarter to pay for mine! I was tempted to say, "No, thank you," but when I looked at her face and saw how gladly she was offering it I stopped. I said, "Thank you," instead and she just lit up.
It was a bitter-sweet lesson for me to learn that it is just as important to receive as it is to give.
6779 Reads
- Posted by Arthur
- Nov 2, 2013
- Comments (18)
Readers Comments
genuinekayakgirl wrote: This reminds me of the following from brene' brown, the gifts of imperfection: until we can receive with an open heart, we are never really giving with an open heart.
abbyc wrote: It's true. Receiving is an art~
autumnfire wrote: She was probably counting her coins because she likes to use up her coins-- not lazily hand over dollars and let the cashier give her back more coins. Yes?
chlking wrote: Great insight!
gglwrx wrote: The jewish tradition teaches that giving is so important that if you and i each only have a penny, we should each give our penny to the other. Giving -- and therefore receiving -- are part of the exchange that fuels life. Like the plants producing oxygen using the carbon dioxide we produce. Symbiosis.
Joyce wrote: Many years ago the only person available to take my mother-in-law for a doctor visit was my teenage daughter. She was so happy to be able to perform this service for her grandmother. But when she returned home, she was in tears because "nana made me take money. I didn't want to and she crammed it in my purse. "
I was upset with the situation and called my mother-in-law and asked her why she had done that. She explained that she liked to "pay her own way". I told her that was all well and good but by forcing my daughter to take the money she had robbed her of her gift. Taking you to the doctor was her gift to you and she was so happy to be able to give this gift and then you took it away from her. She was quiet for a moment and then said, "i never thought of it that way before. " i told i knew that to be true because she was a kind person who would not knowingly hurt someone's feelings. It took her a few more tries, but she did eventually learn to accept gifts of kindness.
I was upset with the situation and called my mother-in-law and asked her why she had done that. She explained that she liked to "pay her own way". I told her that was all well and good but by forcing my daughter to take the money she had robbed her of her gift. Taking you to the doctor was her gift to you and she was so happy to be able to give this gift and then you took it away from her. She was quiet for a moment and then said, "i never thought of it that way before. " i told i knew that to be true because she was a kind person who would not knowingly hurt someone's feelings. It took her a few more tries, but she did eventually learn to accept gifts of kindness.
Evachristine wrote: What a humbling experience, you dealt with it so graciously.
bingiyogi wrote: So true, this is perfect example! We all need to be good receivers as well as good givers :)
happytotoro wrote: Nice sharing <3
maryjo47 wrote: An important lesson for all of us to remember.
