This morning I went on a much needed grocery run. Jeff isn't home, so I had to take the boys. I generally wait til they are in school so I can get through much faster and so I don't have to reprimand them while in the store. They feel incredibly comfortable in the grocery store we go to because they have been going with me since birth and just about every sales clerk know who my boys are.
We are going up and down the aisles grabbing the items needed and we get to the meat department. I am looking to see what I want to throw in the cart when Trevor comes over from the pet aisle with a Laser Chase II, you know the kind they point on the ground so cats, dogs, even chickens can chase the little red dot. (All 3 boys have money burning a hole in their pockets). He asks if he has enough to buy it so he can have the cats chase it and ultimately the puppy when we get her. I ask him how much he has and he proceeds to pull ALL change out of his pocket and count it. Mind you, he is on the floor in the meat department counting change while I watch him count and help if needed.
Another older woman is also in the meat department looking to purchase some for her family. She watches Trevor count his change with a smile on her face. After a few minutes of counting and checking with me to see if he is counting right she gets my attention. She asks "Is it okay if I give them some money?" I am hesitant, I don't want the boys to think that people will just hand them money at any given time. Before I even answer she has given each boy $5 to spend as they wish. Wow, that was very nice of her. The boys all said "Thank you" and proceeded to find what they could buy with an extra $5.
I love it when people do Random Acts of Kindness. It is heart warming and shows that there are good people in this world. So when it happens to me or my kids I feel a sense of gratitude, generosity, and compassion. I know it makes me feel good when I do things for others I don't know as well as those I do know.....but I find it more fun to surprise those I don't know and certainly don't expect it.
The most I have done is paid someone's bridge toll as I am paying mine. I do this when I head home from visiting my mom. I don't do it every time, but once in a while.
My question for you is what Random Act of Kindness have you done lately?
8 comments:
Paid for the groceries that an elderly woman ahead of me was purchasing. Just told the clerk to tell her it was already paid for and just add it to my bill.
Dang. Who'd have thought your children would garner the kind attention of patron... Man that was cool.
That's one I'd never have imagined. Sorry, but true. ;)
Wow! So sweet of her!
And Suzi, I am familiar with your acts of kindness! :)
You're right, doing things like this DOES make you feel good, but gosh, I hate to admit I haven't done much like that lately. Last week, I had my three youngest at the park and there was another mom REALLY struggling with a tantruming 2 or 3 year old who was SERIOUSLY pissed about leaving the playground and refusing to allow mom to buckle her in her car seat. This little girl was screaming and crying for several minutes as I was getting my kids out of the car, getting my carrier and my stroller assembled, etc. It didn't bother me a bit, but I just knew that poor mom was probably SO frustrated and SO embarrassed because I've been there myself so many times. As we walked past I gently asked her if she was okay and if I could help her out at all. She looked at me and kind of said weakly: "Oh, it's okay, she's just throwing a fit..." I told her that I'd had plenty of days just like hers and we kind of chatted for a second and I could see the frustration melt away just a bit from her face and the little girl started to settle down, too. I'm sure she was grateful for the distraction and the encouragement and I felt awesome for helping her gather her wits for a moment, too.
Great post, Suzi!
Very nice! I once found that the person in the coffee line before me had paid for my drink. That was a great surprise! :)
That really is so nice of her! I am with you, I love just seeing a random act of kindness, even if I am not involved. My recent random act will be on my blog tomorrow :-)
Wow!! I need to shop there. You don't see that kind of random kindness much anymore.
How nice of that lady, I think she saw how well behaved your boys can be and thought they deserved a reward.
My random act was just last week I paid for the coffee order for the lady in the car behind me, I did not know her!
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