A Deed Worth Mentioning

I have to share my experience at Walmart today. We go often (I haven't had one close enough for most of our marriage...now I can't stay away!) and today was a pretty normal Chloe and Mommy run to Walmart for a few things day.

While I was looking at socks for Chloe she happened to grab an infant toy and of course she would not let me put it back without a big fight. So... I told her should could hold it until we got to the check out, but the toy "has to stay here."
"Okay Mommy..." was her adorable response although I don't know how much she understood me.

We finished our errands and went to check out. I vaguely recognized our cashier, an older black gentlemen who I was sure I'd seen (like I said, we go there a lot). I handed him the toy first thing to let him know we wouldn't be purchasing it. Other than looking disappointed, Chloe handled it really well. The man set it aside and kept looking at Chloe. He then picked the toy back up and went to scan it. I thought maybe he hadn't heard me so I repeated that we weren't planning to buy it.

The kind man looked at Chloe, then at the price tag and said, "Can I get it for her? For Christmas?"

His sincerity touched me deeply. I assume being a cashier at Walmart his income isn't substantial. This time of year most people are pinching to save every penny so they can provide an adequate Christmas for their own loved ones. Yet, here is this man who was so willing to give, even a little, to make a child happy.

Well, my response was an "absolutely not, I cannot let you do that. She will have plenty of toys to open on Christmas." I assured him she wasn't too upset and he said, "but look at her face..." he was so concerned about her. I thanked him as heartily as I could when we left, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about the situation since.

I believe even some of us with the best intentions are unable to generate the kind of sincerity this man showed to us today. I wish I knew more about him, his name, where he lives, if he has a lot of family. I would like him to know that his small act of kindness affected me in such a way that I feel a deep need to change--to serve more selflessly and be more in tune with the world around me. It is just too easy to get caught up in the chaos of my own life that I become blinded to the needs of those around me.

I hope our little experience today will touch others who read this. I hope I won't be too quick to forget and that somehow I can "pay it forward." It doesn't have to be anything big or extravagant. I hope everyone this Christmas season makes an effort to brighten someone's day. You never know how you can affect the way a person feels about life in general. The man we met today sure had an impact on me. I think I'll try and find a way to let him know it, too.

I'll keep you posted.

Amber