30 Days of Gratitude (Day 13) Random Acts of Kindness.

A number of years ago I was the recipient of a huge act of kindness in a grocery store.  It was one of my typical shopping trips with two toddlers and an infant in tow.   It was usually a pretty lengthy endeavor to navigate through the grocery store.  Thankfully, I had two helpers to throw items into the cart that I hadn't originally planned on buying.  So thoughtful!  (How would I ever shop without their assistance?) 

After we finally made it through the check out line I tried to pay with my credit card and it didn't work.  I tried it a few more times getting frustrated.  The clerk unhelpfully suggested that maybe I was over my limit.  And with the people in line behind me (Mr. and Mrs. McFrowny Face) giving me "the look" I resisted the urge to just grab the cart and go racing out the door. 

I knew my card balance wasn't over the limit because we didn't charge much and never carried a balance on our credit card.  I didn't have my checkbook with me or enough money to cover the $150 total.  A manager came over to see what the hold up was.  (It was slightly embarrassing.)  After I told her that my card wasn't working and that I wouldn't be able to pay for the groceries she did something that totally shocked me.  She told me to take the groceries home (WITHOUT paying for them) and to bring a check by later.  Yes, she did!  So I took the groceries home and went back later with a check for the full amount.  Her kindness and trust impressed me so much that I've never forgotten it. 

I later found out the reason my credit card wasn't working.  My husband was in the process of buying a truck and they charged his card twice at the dealership.  Since we didn't normally charge much and all of a sudden there were two big charges, the credit company suspended all activity on the card until we straightened the whole thing out.

So today I'm grateful for those who show kindness to people they don't even know.  And also for that anonymous store manager.  I hope someone in turn was able to bless her life with a random act of kindness too.


(photo credits: macotar.blogspot.com)