When Josef got home from work today I jumped at the chance to get out of the house. So I headed to Target to make a return and pick up a few groceries. After I have everything I pull up to a check out lane and unload my groceries. After a few seconds I realize somethings up with the women checking out in front of me. It seems as if she can't find her money or credit card that she needs to pay for her things. As she and her son are searching through her purse and wallet, I think of two different things. The first was when I too had left my debit and credit cards at home and had made it all the way through the check out stand at Target before I realized it. Second I remembered a blog I had read a few months ago (I think it's someone I blog stock) about a girl who had something similar happen to her too. It was late in the day she had a lot of groceries, but she had left her wallet elsewhere. Then the lady behind her insisted on paying for her groceries. The girl was especially thankful because I think money had been tight at the time.
So anyway I'm standing there recalling these two memories and I think to myself "I wonder if I should pay for her things..." I tried to get a glimpse into her already loaded cart to see what she had, but I couldn't tell. Again and again I have the same thought that perhaps I should pay for her things, but I don't know what to say or how to bring it up. I freeze up. I don't know what to say or do. The cashier suspends the transaction so I she can ring me up and the lady can continue to look through her purse. As I'm being checked out the lady in front of me sends her son out to the car while she tears her purse apart. All the while I'm still having the same nagging thoughts. Finally, I pay put my groceries in the cart, but know I need to do something before I leave.
"I've done the exact same thing before. I left my card at home once, too." I tell her
She smiles "I'm just so tired."
"I really hope you find what you're looking for!"
I give her a big sympathetic smile and leave, still having the same questions in my head. Should I pay for her? What do I say? How much should I offer? I do have cash... But what if she needs too much?
As I pass the front of Target in my car she comes out of the store heading for her car empty handed; visibly tired and and distressed. She walks by my car and we make eye contact. I smile at her with a pit in my stomach. As I drive home I play over and over in my mind what I should have done. What I should have said.
The more I think about it the more I am sick because I know it was the Holy Ghost prompting me. There's no doubt in my mind. I am so ashamed. I hate that I didn't act on this prompting. Especially when it was so clear. Sure I can tell myself that I really didn't know what to say or how to bring it up with this lady, but it doesn't matter. I know I would have said the right thing. I would have done the right thing.
Sure we're not wealthy people, but we are blessed and we could have been just fine without an extra 40- 60 dollars in grocery money for the week.
Please pay attention and act on prompting from Heavenly Father. Don't let a chance go by to serve others, even complete strangers. I will not make this mistake again.
4 comments:
I would have done the exact same thing
I would have done the same thing too--I often analyze and analyze a situation until it is too late. The fact that you even thought about it is a great thing--most people would just be annoyed and wish she would hurry along so they could get home.
Don't you just love 20/20 Hindsight? Those situations are tough. Perhaps just your kinds words and friendly face helped that lady feel a bit better that day.
Don't you just love 20/20 Hindsight? Those situations are tough. Perhaps just your kinds words and friendly face helped that lady feel a bit better that day.
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