The Good Samaritan in the Customer Service Line

I just got home from my usual Monday morning errands of chiro, raw milk, gas, and grocery, and I wanted to type this up before I run out again for part 2: bank, post office, oil change.

This morning, after picking up my (delicious, wonderful, heavenly, creamy) raw milk, I stopped by Kroger to grab a few more avocados for guacamole. Frank and I have been seriously enjoying some guac this week! Anyway, I had to return something first, so I got in the customer service line to wait my turn.

Right as I got there, the woman in front of me stopped another woman on her way out and handed her a coupon. The woman she had given it to exclaimed happily, “Thank you!” and smiled as she went on her way out the door, chatting with her friend.

The lady in front of me turned to give me a polite explanation, “I had talked to her earlier,” she explained, then stopped. I wanted to hear the rest, so I asked, “What’s the rest of the story.” : )

“Oh!” she said, “The Butterball turkeys here are $2.99 a pound but I told her they were only $0.99 a pound at Target. And I just gave her a coupon for $3.00 off.”

“You just made her day, I bet,” I said. And then we proceeded to strike up a conversation.

The line was long, and we probably talked for around ten minutes. We talked about her two grown-up sons, her job as a hairdresser, my husband Frank being in school, Thanksgiving. And all the while I just felt happy to be having this conversation with such a nice person. She was bubbly and bright, with dark brown curly hair and natural-looking red highlights. Her shirt was pink, a happy color.

When she left, I gave her a card to this blog—not because I thought she would have any interest in a food blog, but because she had brightened my day and my week so much, the thought of her just disappearing into the world when I didn’t even know her name, was just sad!

These last two weeks have been absolutely hellish for me. Every day, I’ve felt sad. Not ALL day every day, but every day. It’s a lot of extremely personal family stuff that I don’t want to go into detail on, but it’s just been one thing after another after another after another. I feel like every two days I’ve been hit with something else, and I’m just plain tuckered out. All my emotions—confused, angry, sad, bewildered, hopeless—have massed into a big ball of hurt wadded up in my chest that feels paralyzing. I literally don’t know what to do about it all.

But anyway, I told you I gave this woman my card; after I left Kroger, on my way home, she texted me and said, “I just met you at Krogers. I’d be glad to treat you to a trim sometime if you’d like. I like helping out students.”

I couldn’t believe it! I’m 3 months (at least) overdue for a trim. I’ve got split ends like crazy, and I’ve just been putting it off and putting it off.

This lady represents something we should all strive to be. When I met her, she was giving another lady a coupon. On my way home, she offered me a free haircut. I didn’t mention this earlier, but one of her sons works with special needs adults AND is in school. Looks like some of mom’s gracious spirit rubbed off on her son.

I feel so blessed to have met this lady today. I don’t know if she was a Christian or not, but as Christians, this is certainly the way we need to be living our lives. Graciously, patiently (we waited forever in that line!), and with kindness.

So thank you, lady at the customer service line, for bringing light into my day and into the lives of others. I’ll be sure to pass it on.

(Photo by Lauren Justice)