Kindness

I was the recipient of the kindest, sweetest act today and it hasn't stopped replaying in my mind.

We were at Walmart, buying some fun new pool toys for our first venture in the pool today, and I got to the register and realized I left my wallet at home. No worries though, I had my check book so I whipped it out and wrote a check for the amount. The kiddos were playing with their new extra large noodles, riding them around the isle like horses and laughing like only little children can. I gathered our goodies and began loading them up when the registrar asked for my I.D. "Oh, I actually don't have any ID, I left my wallet at home...hence the check," I said. The woman apologized but said I had to have ID or they couldn't accept my check. My heart started to sink and I felt my face flush as I ran through the scenario in my mind and realized exactly what would happen when I told the kids they would have to leave their new toys at the store. "Uh, one sec," I murmured and began frantically tearing apart my diaper bag to find what I knew wouldn't be in there. "Can I give you my phone number? Address? Social? ANYTHING?" I begged. I mean, come on, even BANKS will take money without needing an ID. I wasn't like I was asking for money back. "Sorry," she said, "I have to have ID," and she handed me back my check. I took a deep breath and turned towards my kids. "Alright, guys, we need to leave these toys here until Mommy can run home and get some different money, ok? We will come back for them, but we have to leave them here for now." And then it started. Just like I knew it would. I was almost in tears myself and was going to have to resort to prying their little fingers off their treasures just when this sweet sweet older lady spoke up behind me. "How much is it all?" she asked to the registrar, then kindly, wonderfully, said "I will pay for it. Don't worry about it. I got it." I was shocked and didn't even know what to say! I begged her to let me write her the check instead but she kept saying she didn't want anything and she just wanted the kids to have their toys. I said thank you over and over and had the children tell her thank you, but it still felt so inadequate! It wasn't a huge amount of money, but her act of kindness today meant so much more than any amount of money would have. To have to tell the kids they couldn't take their toys home, then load them all up to run home then come all the way back and wait in line again with three hungry, frustrated children would have been a nightmare, and with one act of kindness (that not many people would have done) I was spared and my children granted their little hearts' happiness. I couldn't believe it and didn't know what else to say except "Bless you!" as I walked away. Cheesy, I know, but its what I felt at the moment. I didn't know this woman and would never see her again, so the only way I could ever pay her back was to ask the Lord to bless her in repayment for what she did for me.

I spoke with the children about it a lot today and really tried to distill into their little minds how rare that was and how much it meant to us so we need to always help others if we have an opportunity to "pay it forward."  I'm excited to find a way to help someone else with the children so they can understand what that means and hopefully remember this experience forever. I think Braxton understood and has been saying all day "that was sooooo nice of her!" Yes, it was, but it was so much more. With all the horrible, evil things that go on in this world, it was so good to be reminded of the GOOD out there and that with the evil that is rising, the good is rising right along with it. I feel so blessed to have been a recipient of that pure goodness, and can't wait for my opportunity to pass it on.

"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love."
Saint Basil