Sunday, July 06, 2008

I received this in my e-mail, don't know if it's a true story or not, but can hope it might be.

WHAT A GREAT STORY - IT LEFT A LUMP IN MY THROAT.....AND TEARS IN MY EYES


Never Judge

'Some people!' snorted a man standing behind me in the long line at the grocery store.

'You would think the manager would pay attention and open another line, 'said a woman. I looked to the front of the line to see what the hold up was and saw a well dressed, young woman, trying to get the machine to accept her credit card. No matter how many times she swiped it, the machine kept rejecting it.

'It's one of them welfare card things. Damn people need to get a job like everyone else,' said the man standing behind me. The young woman turned around to see who had made the comment. 'It was me,' he said, pointing to himself.

The young lady's face began to change expression. Almost in tears, she dropped the welfare card onto the counter and quickly walked out of the store. Everyone in the checkout line watched as she began running to her car. Never looking back, she got in and drove away.

After developing cancer in 1977 and having had to use food stamps; I had learned never to judge anyone, without knowing the circumstances of their life. This turned out to be the case today.

Several minutes later a young man walked into the store. He went up to the cashier and asked if she had seen the woman. After describing her, the cashier told him that she had run out of the store, got into her car, and drove away.

'Why would she do that?' asked the man. Everyone in the line looked around at the fellow who had made the statement.

'I made a stupid comment about the welfare card she was using. Something I shouldn't have said. I'm sorry,' said the man.

'Well, that's bad, real bad, in fact. Her brother was killed in Afghanistan two years ago. He had three young children and she has taken on that responsibility. She's twenty years old, single, and now has three children to support,' he said in a very firm voice.

'I'm really truly sorry. I didn't know,' he replied, shaking both his hands about.

The young man asked, 'Are these paid for?' pointing to the shopping cart full of groceries. 'It wouldn't take her card,' the clerk told him.

'Do you know where she lives?' asked the man who had made the comment.

'Yes, she goes to our church.'

'Excuse me,' he said as he made his way to the front of the line. He pulled out his wallet, took out his credit card and told the cashier, 'Please use my card. PLEASE!' The clerk took his credit card and began to ring up the young woman's groceries.

Hold on,' said the gentleman. He walked back to his shopping cart and began loading his own groceries onto the belt to be included. 'Come on people. We got three kids to help raise!' he told everyone in line. Everyone began to place their groceries onto the fast moving belt. A few customers began bagging the food and placing it into separate carts. 'Go back and get two big turkeys,' yelled a heavyset woman, as she looked at the man. 'NO,' yelled the man. Everyone stopped dead in their tracks. The entire store became quiet for several seconds. 'Four turkeys,' yelled the man. Everyone began laughing and went back to work. When all was said and done, the man paid a total of $1,646.57 for the groceries. He then walked over to the side, pulled out his check book, and began writing a check using the bags of dog food piled near the front of the store for a writing surface. He turned around and handed the check to the young man. 'She will need a freezer and a few other things as well,' he told the man.

The young man looked at the check and said, 'This is really very generous of you.'

'No,' said the man. 'Her brother was the generous one.'

Everyone in the store had been observing the odd commotion and began to clap. And I drove home that day feeling very American.

We live in the Land of the free, because of the Brave! Remember our Troops of Yesterday and Today !

Kindness is the language the blind can see and the deaf can hear. - Mark Twain

A great example of why we should be kind and patient.

Enjoy Life., You only get one try at it. Blessings to you and yours

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. 'This is the day the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.' Psalm 118:24

If this doesn't touch you what does it take?



12 comments:

Merle said...

Dear Patty ~~ This is a wonderful story and I too hope it is true.
We should all be aware that there are reasons for people's actions etc. and
not judge other people.
I hope you and Abe have recovered after all the yard work. Glad you liked some of my funnies. I had a complaint about the golf robots.
Take care, my friend, Love, Merle.

Anonymous said...

Damnit! Now I am crying.

Melinda said...

excellent story mom!

Tom said...

I agreePatty .. is this dose not get you, then youmust be way past caring..
All the best for this coming week..
Tom

Chat with Kathleen said...

Isn't it the truth how people are so impatient and jump to conclusions.
It also shows how people can amend for their wrongdoings. I do hope the story is true and I pray that the 20 year old girl is given much strength and courage to take care of her brother's children.

Rev Robert Schuyler, the Hour of Power, always begins with "This is the day the LORD hath made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Patty, Please enjoy this beautiful Sunday the Lord has given us.

Reader Wil said...

It's a beautiful story! I hope you are all in good health and having a great weekend!.

raccoonlover1963/Lisa Myers said...

Abe, you're not the only one with teary eyes.
Awesome story, Patty. Sorry I haven't visited for a couple of days. Hope to see you visit soon.
Lisa

LauriesAsylum said...

That was a wonderful story Patty. I enjoyed it very much and I'm sending it on!

Patty said...

So glad everyone enjoyed the story. Thanks to all for your visits. I do appreciate it very much.

Renie Burghardt said...

What a beautiful and touching story, Patty. Brought tears to my eyes. I like to believe it is a true story. There are people like that in our country, and even all over the world. Thank you for sharing it.

I am tired tonight. Good night, Patty.

Renie

K.C. said...

Yeah, that is what it means to do something right. Everyone who was part of that scene will be changed forever... Great story... I will be changed forever for just reading it...

I pay for the folks behind me in line at fast food restaurants when I can anonomously. Because it was done for me and I remember how it felt. I know that It makes them wonder why... And who... And then I tell the clerk to tell them that I said, "SHe just wanted you to have a good day. That's all "

That kind of kindness will last all day and will be passed on and on and on...

Great post! Kayce

Diane said...

Very humbling. If only we all would stop before we opened our mouths or even had bad thoughts. It's for certain we don't know one's circumstances and NEVER should judge another.

Hugs,
Diane