“When peace dwells within us, we will make acquaintance with more goodness, steadfastness, wisdom, justice, and love … ”
–Joe Pennel
“Standing in the checkout line, I watched as a white-haired lady began to put her groceries on the conveyor belt. She caught my attention because her sweater was funky and full of life. She’d already put a few items on the counter when the cashier said, ‘I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m closing.”
‘Oh, sweetheart,’ that dear woman replied, as she placed her red cabbage back in her cart. ‘I bet you’re just about to have a nice lunch. Or get off for the day. Oh, I hope it’s that! Enjoy!’ And off she went in her eccentric sweater and spunky spirit.
She changed the entire atmosphere with her kindness to the cashier that had shooed her away.”
That story was on Dannah Gresh’s blog and sent to me by a friend. The story changed my day and maybe my life.
I was set to run errands that included the grocery store. The weather was horrible; it was cold and raining and everyone was in a hurry. I decided after reading the story I would not be. After all, the holidays are for our enjoyment. Ah hum …
A parking place at the front was open. It should have been handicap, but it wasn’t. I hesitated because I’m perfectly capable of walking, even in the rain. But I took it; I suspected something was going on. I saw friends and shared well wishes. At the checkout a new lane opened. My cashier was efficient and cheerful as was the bag boy. I stepped outside and the rain had stopped.
At McDonald’s I watched a grandpa with his two grandsons. He asked about the dollar menu. I thought how quickly those boys will grow and how they’ll remember McDonald’s with their grandpa. I was enjoying my wait when a man with only one tooth to his name struck up a friendly conversation, “Me and Momma can’t hardly stand this cold.”
I knew that “Momma” was a term of endearment for his wife. We talked about weather. He laughed; I smiled. My order arrived and I touched the arm of his coat. “You and Momma have a nice holiday.”
“Sure will, ma’am.”
I drove on to the bank. All lanes were full. I ate my sandwich and waited. At the window I saw there was one teller for all four lanes. “Boy, you sure are busy.”
“It’s OK,” she said. “It’s like running for exercise.”
She was smiling like a beauty queen. Boy, I was having a really good day.
At Kmart I watched a boy test driving a bicycle. Then he left the bike, “Momma, look at these camouflage overalls. They are 50 percent off. I bet Dad would like these.”
Momma was figuring prices on her smartphone.
Thanks to Dannah Gresh’s story the day was starting to look an awful a lot like “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
It made me think maybe I should get one of those funky eccentric sweaters.
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