This past Friday I
stopped by a car wash as I had promised a man that I would give him a
yearbook—not mine but one I bought at a thrift store three years ago. My reason
for buying it in the first place was that it didn’t cost much at all and
second, someone might need it. My stopping came from a prior conversation for I
thought he had been a past student of mine but found out he had grown up in a
different area here –that’s when I told him about the yearbook and said I’d
gladly give it to him.
He had done a
fantastic job washing and cleaning my car and I said I’d gladly bring it to him
on Wednesday. Wednesday came and went as did Thursday but Friday, I grabbed the
yearbook on my way out and headed for the car wash; as I approached, he saw my
car and I pulled in and handed him the yearbook.
He was thrilled
beyond words because he had not gotten his own for his senior year, and I was
thrilled for him to have that yearbook. I told him I didn’t want any thanks:
Fate had done its job. Off I went headed for the grocery store smiling at what
had just taken place.
As usual, the store
parking lot was full which meant my driving around and around to find a parking
place which I finally did and walked inside the store. On my mind were three
things to buy but as it happens, I had my grocery cart loaded with this and
that; found a lane open that had one person in front of me and it wasn’t long
before the cashier was checking me out.
I asked if there was
anyone bagging groceries and the clerk said that there wasn’t anyone when all
of a sudden a tall man with an orange shirt came up to where the groceries were
ready to be bagged and started bagging them for me. Again I asked another
question and that was “Does he work here?” The clerk replied “I’ve never seen
him in my life and no, he doesn’t.” That man was all business as he put my
groceries carefully into bags and said “There you are; all done!” I looked at
him and not only thanked him but told him he was an angel. “Not really” he
replied but I came back saying “Oh yes you are.”
What a wonderful
thing for a stranger to do that for someone and that someone was a grateful me.
On the way to the car, I thought about the two things that had happened that
afternoon: I gave someone a gift because I simply wanted to do it, and in
return, a stranger gave me the ultimate gift of help and kindness. There aren’t
many days like that but when they occur take time to realize how rare and
wonderful they are. Kind human nature
does exist even if the world is haywire—in fact, it happens more than you’d
think and I saw it that day: I was a giver and a receiver and three people were
happy.
Sherry Hill
© Sherry Hill
Copyright 2017
All Rights Reserved
*Photo from Microsoft Word
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