Friday, September 14, 2007

Paying it Forward

The Wal-Mart. The Grocery. The kids. Yikes, never a positive experience. I dread going to the grocery for many reasons, in particular it's always a lot of money, the kids aren't always on their best behavior, it's mundane. I don't know. Just in general not fun. So today I embarked on the dreaded experience and with a list and coupons in tow, I set forth to just get it done. I went through the process and collected my items one by one, it took awhile but I did it. I went to check out, and the lines were long and to be honest I am on WIC - and it's quite embarassing and I hate taking up people's time, I went to write a check(a familiar commercial come to mind?) so I was just taking awhile and there was this nice gentlemen (maybe late 30's) behind me, patiently waiting, and I kept thinking he must be so annoyed with me. When he said "go ahead and put my things on the bill". I was confused, I said "Pardon me?". He said, "I'd like to take care of this for you today." In my mind I wasn't comprehending what he was saying. He said "I'd like to take care of this for you today, I do one good deed everyday, and today you get to be the lucky person." I MEAN WHAT?? I told him "Sir, I can't let you do this it's going to be $100 bucks!" He said "It's o.k. I've been blessed in my life financially I'd like to do this for you." In my mind I thought I can't even accept this, but in my heart something was saying let this man do this for you. So I said "I don't even know what to say, as tears welled up in my eyes, I said thank you so much, you don't even know, my husband is deployed, this is so generous". It was just a special moment for the two of us standing there in the Wal-Mart. Afterward my friend came up to me, and I said "this gentlemen just paid for my groceries". I went to put my groceries in my cart as tears were rolling down my face. My friend went back and asked him about his good deeds, and he explained his son died in February and in his honor he does a good deed for someone every day. What a legacy! It was such a touching moment, a moment I won't ever forget. Generousity for a complete stranger, and through his grief, I believe many people are being touched by this. So today, I ask "Pay it Forward", do a good deed for someone, someone you DON'T KNOW. I wish I had gotten his name or shook his hand, or something I was a mess, I couldn't even think. What I am going to do is send a letter to the editor of our local paper, I just couldn't believe it. I had to share this amazing story with you. No longer will grocery shopping be a mundane chore, I can think of September 14, 2007 and the sweet man who made a sacrifice for me. I, too, will pay it forward. Hope you have a surprising day, too! :)

24 comments:

Rita said...

Lucy, this is the most amazing story! Now I'm in tears! Thanks for pointing this out over at CMK -- I love stories about good in the world -- because we certainly here enough of the bad! ((Hugs))

Norma Kennedy said...

Oh my goodness I am tears !!!!! Thanks for the encouragment and reminder of what it means to bless someone- I will make a point to Pay it Forward today !!!!

Norma

Crystal said...

awwww...i cried...how wonderful!

Prazdance said...

Yes there IS still nice people in the world! Thank you for sharing that beautiful story. May God continue to bless that nice man AND you as you "pay it forward."

Tomie said...

What a touching story! I have had a similar thing happen to me at Wal-Mart. So amazing that people can be so kind to strangers.

Anonymous said...

How awesome is that......I am just in awe too and I love to hear stories like this...what a sweet man!

becca said...

thats soo cool lucy! you deserve this blessing. glad there are people looking out for you!

janet said...

What an amazing story...it made me cry too. That man is an angel!
I'm so happy for you that it happened. You deserve it! So glad to know that there are people like that out there. What a wonderful way to keep his son's memory alive!

Elizabeth said...

This is simply beautiful and what a huge blessing!

IamDerby said...

What a beautiful story. Made me cry... stuff like that just makes you feel good.

Lainey said...

What an amazing story - thanks for sharing it with us!!!

Nicole Carro said...

Such an inspiring story - thank you so much for sharing it. I really need reminders like this once in awhile that there are people willing to help others. What a beautiful way to preserve his son's memory.

Tina said...

I needed to read your story today. How touching and what an awesome thing to do. There are still good people in the world! Thank you for sharing this, God is awesome!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing this bit of light! Beautiful!
Tammy Gray

Sue said...

this is an amazing story and it made me cry! what a wonderful, wonderful man!! You must be pretty special too to receive this awesome blessing :)

Sue said...

this is an amazing story! What a wonderful, wonderful man!! And you must be pretty special too to receive such a blessing :)

Sherry said...

Oh, Lucy. What a great story; thank you for posting it. Do you mind if I share a link to your story on my blog?

Sherry
www.dixiepieces.com

Anonymous said...

Lucy....thanks a lot! Now I have goosebumps and tears rolling down my face. How amazing is this story!

Thanks for sharing, it's a great reminder of how wonderful people can really be and how easy one simple act can change someone's life.

I'll make sure to do something nice for someone today and I have you to thank.

-Brenna-
Dixie Pieces

Anonymous said...

Wow, I'm wiping the tears! And I get the feeling that he picked just the right person! Thanks for sharing this - as the others have said, you always get to hear about the bad, and it's nice to hear about the good!

Anonymous said...

Oh, I forgot, and God Bless your husband!!

Debby Winters said...

OK, I am sitting here with goosebumps on my goosebumps! What a wonderful experience.
How heartwarming to know that there are people out there who are so unselfish and thoughtful.
I am sure his son is watching and smiling.
Thanks so much for sharing your story.

Michele Kovack said...

I just found your blog and wasn't expecting to cry! What a beautiful story! There are such amazing people out there...it just seems we tend to focus on all the bad.

Anonymous said...

beautiful! this too is my goal! i love to pay it forward.
it is magical!
try it once and feel the power!
thank you to your "friend"... now, go pay it FORWARD!
what a lovely story, thanks for the happy tears.
Catherine Feegel-Erhardt
MMM class of 2007

Unknown said...

This brought tears to my eyes too. Our sermon at church today was about this very thing. I'm challenging myself (and anyone that might ever read my blog) to do a good deed each day. Thanks for sharing!