welcome friends.....thanks for popping in my world....
I'd love to know you've stopped by, so please note that the comment section is now found at the title of each post.

R.A.O.K.

So the other day I was at the store and embarrassingly was $3.57 short. Trying to stay on a "cash diet" I purposely left my debit card/checkbook (and who uses checks anymore?!?) at home.

I was a little embarrassed, but reluctantly asked the clerk to take a couple things off of my order as I rambled on and on explained why I only had cash on me so as to keep me from overspending. She was probably about 17 years old at the most, looked like she wanted to be anywhere but behind this register. I also could tell she had a very important text to return as she kept looking into her smock pocket that was glowing from her phone screen. Obviously she could care less about the financial advice I was trying to share as she resembled a deer staring into headlights as I was talking. I think I gave her another reason to hate her job even more when I asked her to price check the dish-washing detergent, the paper plates and Chocolate Moose Tracks ice cream.

Before she could get the last eye roll in.......a very nice woman behind me tapped me on the shoulder and asked how much I was short. I told her it was less than $4 but no big deal because I really didn't need that ice cream......I started rambling mentioned I was going to start running again because of the extra few pounds I packed on over the summer. Before I could get to the part about how the all the local summer fairs' food was the culprit.....she handed me a five dollar bill and told me that she would take care of it. I thanked her but told her I really didn't want her to do that......but she insisted and told me to accept it as a gift. I was floored by her generosity. I asked her if I could have her address to return the money but she told me not to worry about it and just to pay it forward someday.

How awesome was that? Here is someone who doesn't even know me......yet graciously helped me out when I was in a pinch. (or maybe she just wanted me to stop babbling so the five bucks was worth it!) Either way.....she gave when she wasn't asked nor expected anything in return.

As I was driving home, I thought about how Jesus teaches us in Matthew 25:35-40

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'


I love hearing about random acts of kindness........have you been the recipient of someone's kindness.....or can you share something you did to make someone's day a little brighter? Please share!

Have a great weekend, friends!

*~Michelle~*

18 comments:

Joyce said...

As I was reading I was so hoping someone stepped in to show kindness. I love that.

When we were moving in here I went thru the drive in at Burger King and ordered two coffees. When I pulled around to pay I realized I'd left my wallet at home and only had enough change in the car for one. The girl at the window said not to worry and to go ahead and take the second coffee. A small thing but still it made my day.

Enjoy your weekend...I'm so glad you didn't have to give up the ice cream!

Kendra said...

I love that how you were rambling on, giving advice to the check out girl, and about the ice cream... That is SO something I would do! Awesome that you are using cash only... we are moving that way (Checkcard is a HARD habit to break). Awesome also what the lady behind you did. There ARE good people in this world :)

Kristina P. said...

I definitely think you will pay it forward.

RCUBEs said...

Inspiring! Both of you:

The giver who chose to bless someone she didn't know...

And you...who chose to spend wisely...We must all do that! :) I always turn down those "whatever percent you would save if you apply for their store's credit card!" offers. I just know what I need. I get those. And I'm out of the store in no time. Blessings sister.

herbhalstead said...

Love the story. Have you read "The Kingdom Experiment" by TheHouseStudio.com? It's not a book you just "read" really, intended more for a small group study, but man is it full of ways to "pay it forward" or as we say at Thrive Church, "pass it on."

~*Michelle*~ said...

Thanks everyone......it def. get me a boost of "hope" when reflecting on our world.

Joyce....yes! I enJOYed having that treat later that night. YUM!

Kendra...the rambling can be a blessing to some, but also a curse to others!!! LOL

Thanks Kristina.....I totally will! :)

Rosel....it is such a trap, isn't it?!?!

Herb, I'll have to check out that book.....(when you hang out here a little more, you'll soon see that I have severe ADD.....the run-on sentences, grammatical nightmares and random thoughts kinda give it away, LOL. Needlesstosay.....I struggle with "reading" for the most part, but if something is very interesting/important to me, I can do it!

Beth E. said...

When I broke my ankle, a friend from church sent her cleaning lady over to my house, weekly, for half a day. My entire house was cleaned in that amount of time. Now THAT was a wonderful act of kindness! ;-)

I like to pull the "drive-thru" act of kindness. Whenever I treat myself to a sausage biscuit before heading to work, I always pay for the person behind me. Then, while driving the rest of the way to my job, I pray for that person and his/her family. It's a great way to start my day.

~*Michelle*~ said...

WOW Beth......maybe I need to roll my ankle if that is what it would take to get this house finally CLEAN! LOL

Seriously.....that was awesome for your friend to do!

We started this thing where we pay the toll for the person behind us when we first went to Soulfest (Christian music festival).....and it stuck.


These are so great! Keep 'em coming!

Mich said...

I have had a few things like that happen this summer and it always leaves me overwhelmed at God's goodness and the people He uses daily. Love this.

Happy weekend!

Daveda said...

I love it! I have on occation paid for the person behind me in a drive through or cash register line. It is always nice to see the looks on peoples faces when they have been enexpectantly blessed!

Tracy said...

Oh Michelle, I love you. I kept laughing as I read this; I could just picture the entire scene in my mind. Rambling wordsmiths rock!

Karen M. Peterson said...

I love random acts of kindness. I am a frequent recipient and I always try to pay it forward. I know you will too!

Duane Scott said...

You do that too? Ramble on and on? I sometimes give people a ten minute rundown of why I like Crest mouthwash versus Colgate's.

But ya... That's pretty awesome that the lady helped you out. I think I'd do the same if I saw someone in that situation.

I think.

Maybe I would.

I sure hope I would.

Thanks for the challenge!

janis said...

Awe, she was paying it forward.
I could so see myself in your shoes and in her shoes too.
Thank you for sharing this & good for you about the cash diet!

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

what a kind thing of her to do. I bet the ice cream tasted better too- reminded of her kindness!

katdish said...

I love RAOK! I do the drive thru thing fairly often, where I pay for the person behind me. It's always a bit of a crap shoot, because you never know if they're ordering a coke or dinner for a family of 5, but that's just part of it.

I'm sure you'll pay it forward the first chance you get, Michelle.

Kim said...

What a wonderful post. I actually wrote about this on my blog last December. Enjoy!


http://helpingmeup.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-dont-know-how-to-begin-to-thank-you.html

Warren Baldwin said...

These kinds of stories are great. I have received a number of RAOK and appreciated them, and have been able to dispense a few, too. Great story.

 

Design in CSS by TemplateWorld and sponsored by SmashingMagazine
Blogger Template created by Deluxe Templates