Dear Kind Gentleman…

Dear Kind Gentleman in Safeway this past Friday,

I had spent an hour shopping in the grocery store, Mabel was getting a tad restless, and I finally made it to the checkout aisle.  With Mabel in her ring sling, I slowly loaded the checkout counter with my items and then you got in line after me.  I felt bad since it was going to take me forever to get my items on the conveyer belt (it’s a bit tricky while wearing your little one in a ring sling) and you only had a few items in your cart.

But then you smiled at me and asked if you could help.

Really?!  I haven’t had anyone offer to help me in a very long time and I’ve had my share of people shutting doors on me while pushing a stroller and so on.

Before you started to load my groceries, you politely handed me my purse from the front of my cart and then told me it was the least you could do.  You continued to say that you normally shopped with your wife and if she was alone that you would be grateful to someone who might help her out.

I was floored (in a good way)….there aren’t too many people like you anymore.

You told the cashier that they should get a bagger to help me take my groceries out to my car but I politely declined.  I’ve worked out a good system of getting Mabel into her car seat and then unload my cart into my trunk.  I did appreciate your concern though.

As the cashier handed me my receipt, I met your gaze again, smiled and thanked you several times for your genuine kindness.

Later in the parking lot, I ran into you one final time while returning my cart to the cart corral.  You gave me one more huge smile and told me to have a wonderful weekend and I told you the same.

I hope you know that this little gesture of kindness made my day.

Now I’m not sure if you all believe in karma or ‘paying it forward’…but last week in Target there was a lady behind me when I was checking out who was in a motorized scooter.  I had offered to help her load her items on the counter, which she thanked me for and explained that she had just had surgery on her knee and was a teacher.  It felt great to help her out.

I truly believe all kind acts that you partake in will eventually find their way back to you.

Have you payed it forward lately?