Random Act of Kindness

Yesterday I went to the grocery store with CBL, as we often do on Tuesdays.  While we waited to check out the lady in front of us had a something I can only describe as a "severe coupon issue" which made the whole getting home process take way too long.

The lady behind us, who came up after the Coupon Coup of 2012 was resolved, saw CBL and commented, "Oh you are a pretty little girl, what is that you are eating?"

"Fruit Loops." I replied.

In our house they are a snack, not a breakfast food.  More specifically they are generally a grocery store snack and it takes my kids about a month to get through a box. 

The lady replied to me via CBL, "OOO I guess you have a nice mommy.  I didn't let my girls have those."

As I paid and walked away I heard her tell the check-out guy she had 4 things of soda under her cart.  Well lady, I NEVER let my kiddos have soda- so there.

No matter, I had a happy little lady in my cart and we were nearly done with our daunting chore.

On the drive home I reflected back on my most recent grocery store check-out experience. I thought of nearly 1,000 things I wanted to say to the Fruit Loop Nazi (FLN).  I wish I had my wits about me, because when I do- watch out.

But I had just ran 6 miles on the treadmill and had only eating 1 apple and a mini Hershey's bar, so my wits were set to low.

When we were about half way home traffic on both sides of the street stopped completely.  No light.  No school bus.  Just stopped.

I peered around and saw a medium sized black short haired dog traversing the street.  Cars were piling up.  No one honked.  No one yelled.

Finally a girl in the led car on the other side of the road opened her door.  The dog came over and tried to climb on her lap.  She reached back and opened her driver's side back door and let the dog in the back of her small gray car.

I watched her as she drove away throwing up her hands with a "now what" smile on her face.  Something about her gestures told me this was not her dog, but she saw something needed to be done and she generously took care of it.

There was a message in that random act of extreme kindness that resonates with me.  She saw that help was needed and she trusted the situation enough to do the right thing.

At the end of the day, the random act of kindness from the sweet dog girl stuck with me more than the Fruit Loop Nazi- and for that I am Thankful.