Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A Big Piece Of Humble Pie


--by tambu, posted May 8, 2007
I ran out of gas less than one block from the local gas station.   While waiting in line to ask if they had a gas can I could use, I was watching the new cashier trainee.  I was judging his appearance and demeanor:  prison tattoos up his neck and down his arms, not making eye contact with the customers nor thanking anyone, insecure about what he was doing...

When my turn came and I asked if they had a gas can.  The  girl training him (who is familiar with me) said, "No, but we have one you can buy."  I like to think that I live in a small town where everyone is able to help one another ... but sometimes not. 

The new cashier, however, looked up at me and said, "I have one in the back of my truck you can use, if you'll bring it back." 

I thanked him profusely.  I was ashamed of how I had been judging and, at the same time, delighted that, once again, the universe had provided me with another  lesson in kindness!
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Readers Comments

thaata wrote: Past experience determines our reaction to similar such future experiences. Still, all are not same. Go by your heart and instinct and you will never fail. A lesson learnt is passed on. Thank you for sharing.
Vicky wrote: Mother Theresa said 'If you judge people you have no time to love them'. A very wise lady.
Woelwaters wrote: Tambu, late comment! but your story reminds me - and all of us - to keep an open mind when people approach us. Thank you for sharing it.
maer wrote: Yes, the easy way is to judge by appearance, isn't it? The lesson you learned is valuable... but not just for you. Thanks for sharing.
Rice wrote: Judge not a book by it's cover. Often the most abused book is one that has many stories to tell...many of which we can learn from.
I'm glad you came across this man. It reminds us that there is good in everyone. Have a blessed day!
ieiblue wrote: yeah..sometimes we tend to do such.. such an awakening really.. :P
Glen wrote: The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
pinotess wrote: It is amazing how we judge people by the way they look or where they live, we judge before we have even spoken to them. Do you know in the first 10 seconds that you meet someone you make an impression of the type of person they are - that can then last a lifetime. So the smile and kind words you give in the first few seconds of meeting someone is the most important encounter of all.
Maude wrote: As a cashier in a gas station I have something to add to this story. The gas station I work at used to have a gas can that they had for borrowing as well as tools and everything that a customer could need to borrow. Then people started taking things and never returning it. We are a locally owned small store and we cannot afford to lose things that like all the time. We are not making people buy things just to be malicious and make a few bucks. And its really not a cashier's place to be able to determine whether or not we can loan a gas can as it isn't ours to lend out, its the owner's. Ideally we would be able to have things to loan but we end up losing them within just a few days.
JoJoMcB wrote: different does not always mean bad. . . .

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