Thoughts.com Blogs - thank you for your kindness

I was the victim of a random act of kindness two times in as many weeks.

The first one happened on April 4, 2008, it was about 8pm on a Friday night. I was at our local walmart doing some grocery shopping. I usually like to go a little bit earlier, but didnt have enough time during the day. Also since it was a Friday I had to take my kids with me, cause J works nights at that dumb irish pub.

So there I was, grocery shopping with my 3 kids in tow. Lucky for me, they are very well behaved so more than anything I was just tired. I was in line waiting to pay when I noticed a woman looking at me. I smiled and continued to put jackets on my kids. The woman came up behind me and said " God loves you".
I looked and her and didnt know what to say, so I said ' thank you'. Then she pressed a wad of money into my hands. I felt my mouth fall open and said "what is this?" and she told me that God loves me and so she wants me to have that money, to please accept it. She said it isnt much but I want you to have it.

I was embarrassed and uncomfortable, but I accepted and put the money away. I thanked her and have her a hug and then she walked away.

Ive never had anything like this happen to me. I wondered why the woman at the store picked me to give her money to. I thought maybe she belongs to a church and she was supposed to go out and find someone that looked like they needed a break and help them?

I really dont remember her too much cause it all happened very fast. I do remember she was a little taller than me, probably in her late 40's, and she had medium length blonde hair. I say a prayer for her every night, and whoever and wherever she is, I hope God blesses her every day. I wish I had thought to at least ask her name!

The next incident isnt as exciting as the walmart one, but worth mentioning.

There is a second hand store downtown which is owned and operated by missionaries that seem to be Amish (?) My friend K told me about this store and how you can always find all kinds of great deals on everything so last Friday I decided to go in and take a look. I had been wanting a denim jacket to wear everyday, now that the weather isnt as cold. (I got bored of my dumpy little black windbreaker)

So guess what I found at the secondhand store? A medium-blue denim jacket in the perfect size and in great shape. It didnt have a price tag, but I figured it wouldnt be more than 8 or 9 dollars. I walked by the toy aisle and let my kids pick out a toy and then we went to stand in line to pay. There was maybe about 3 or 4 people ahead of me, so I started reading signs and stuff posted around the store.

Then I saw it.

Above the cash register was a sign with store policies. One of the policies stated "items without a price tag must be taken to the back and re-priced. The item(s) will be available at a later date ".

Awww man! I was going to have to leave my jeans jacket.

I stayed in line anyways cause I was just going to pay for my kids toys. WHen it was my turn to pay, I set the jacket on the counter and told the young woman at the register " I found this without a price tag....and I just read your policy ". Im pretty sure I had a bummed out look on my face.

She looked at the jacket and then she quietly told me " Sometimes theyre not too strict with their policies. I could give it to you for ..... $2.99? "

WOOOHOOOO!!

I said okay, and she rang up the rest of my stuff. I ended up only spending $8.00 for a denim jacket and 2 cute toys for my kids. What a deal, and what a nice lady at the cash register to bend the rules a little so I could have that jacket.

Even though it may not always seem like it, there really are a lot of good people in the world. I was lucky enough to come across two of them recently.