Among Friends

[threecees]

I was shopping at the Giant this week.  I had an offer of save $5 when you spend $40.

My order after coupons came to $38.60.  There was a lady close behind me. When the cashier told me that I still needed to buy something for $1.40 to get the $5 off my bill, the lady behind me thought that I was short a few dollars.

She said out loud, "How much do you need." I responded to her, No, I am not short for money but I have to still add something to my order to get my $5 coupon off. I told her thank you very much to offer.

I thought she was a very generous person. You don't meet people like that every day.

I

[KitTkat]

That was very thoughtful of her. It's important to do random acts of kindness, and hopefully we will follow in this woman's example and share kindness. Thanks for posting about your experience.

[Carmie]

That was very sweet of her.

I would have just grabbed a pack of gum or a candy bar to make it to the $40 mark.

I have on many occasions given people money at the check out so that they can complete their order and be on their way.  It’s a nice thing to do, and it speeds things along.  I hate to have to wait while they figure out what they want to return and then the cashier has to delete items.

The last time I did it, it was for a young man in Walmart who was short 5 cents.  He thanked me and said.  I should have listened to my mother when she said to pick up lost pennies, you never know when they might come in handy.

[blackhole99]

My MIL would do that, pay for the person ahead of her. I have tried to do that several times when the person ahead of me can't find a coupon or doesn't have enough cash for something, but they decline and just put the item aside. I guess there are people who are just too proud, they would rather do without. I respect that.

[Carmie]

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@blackhole99 wrote:

My MIL would do that, pay for the person ahead of her. I have tried to do that several times when the person ahead of mine can't find a coupon or doesn't have enough cash for something, but they decline and just put the item aside. I guess there are people who are just too proud, they would rather do without. I respect that.

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I can understand that.  I would have a difficult time accepting money from someone too.

Mostly every time I have done it has been for an elderly person, who is hard of hearing and clearly has no money.  When the cashier tells them they are short, they don’t understand.

i just tell the cashier that I got it and hand the money over.

My DH is a retired police officer used to get called to the Giant Grocery store for shop lifters.  Often it was an elderly person who was hungry and had no money.  My DH would just see that they got home and not arrest them.  He also would buy groceries and give them some cash.

The store called once because an older man stole a small pack of Lance peanut butter crackers. The poor man was crying his eyes out.  He said he was wrong, but hadn’t eaten in a few days.

As a society, we seem to take care of feeding children, but forget about elderly people who are clearly starving.  They have to choose between meds and food.

A small act of kindness can mean so much to them.

[on the bay]

@Carmie-

Yours and your husbands kindness made me cry. 

And also how sad it is that they had nothing to eat and were hungry.

Just shouldn't be

[Carmie]

@on the bay  My kindness is nothing compared to my father’s. When I was a child I used to get upset because he gave money away to those in need instead of buying me a toy or clothing.

He would drive around on Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving...and other days..usually a Sunday and pick up homeless people and bring them to our house to sit with us and share a meal.

He would buy homeless people shoes and coats and give them money. Often they slept in our Living room in cold weather and would be there when we got up in the morning.  My mother used to say we will be killed in our beds, he still brought them home.

i could go on and on.  I don’t Remember my paternal grandmother..she died when I was a baby, but my older cousins do.  They said my grandmother told them that when someone needs help, or shows up at your door asking for help or food,  You should  always go out if your way to help.  It could be Jesus at your door testing you.

My father helped his mother raise 10 children when my grandfather died at age 42.  They didn’t have  much, but they always gave some of what they had to others.

My father has been gone for years, if he was alive he would be 107 years old in March.  I still hear stories from people who meet me that knew my father.  They tell me about the kindness he showed them.

When I am feeling stingy and greedy, I try to think of him and try to do better.

Sorry, I am long winded.  I have been thinking about my father today and how much I miss him.

[on the bay]

@Carmie-

What an incredible human being your father was. He reminds me of the one who's name starts with J

"I Believe there are Angels Amoung Us"-Alabama

[SXMGirl]

@Carmie, what a wonderful family you have--such a legacy.

While I never think about random acts of kindness at the grocery, on several occasions I have let people use my grocery membership card if they did not have one.  One young woman with a baby was new to the area.  She was hesitant to use my card, but she ended up saving $17 off of her bill.  Neither one of us could believe it, and she told me what a big help that was for her.

Another time I did the same for a college student.  I don't remember how much he saved, but it was fairly significant.

I would like to think that if I needed that help that someone would do the same.

[homedecor1]

@Carmie

I think our dads may have been distant relatives! I still hear stories of his generosity from family & others -- sadly, he died unexpectedly 28 years ago today🙁😢 at 53.   He did the same he raised his younger siblings as his dad was killed walking to work when he was 14.  

He was a wonderful father & friend -- stern & "frugal" with us but generous to others! (Believe me, we never wanted for anything but as kids we thought he was cheap!!! Lol)

 I do the same as we've learned from the best!!!