The other day, I accompanied my husband to a local Walmart to pick up a few things we needed. Since I am homebound and rarely get out, to ride through the store in my power chair gives me a small sense of freedom and independence, and the whole experience is generally a blessing in itself. When we got to the checkout lane, the cashier asked, “Are your feet bothering you, hon”? Well, my feet bother me all the time, so before answering, I looked down to see them from her perspective. As usual, they were swollen and deep purple in color. To make a long story short, she asked multiple questions and I answered them, unoffended by what some would consider to be intrusive queries. By the time we left her lane, she was near tears on my behalf and I had experienced the touch of kindness and compassion from a complete stranger, who now felt like a friend.
This is, sadly, a rare experience, but one for which I am ever grateful. Every single time I feel alone or that no one understands my situation, someone comes along with a kind word or gesture to prove that there are people who truly care about others. I know that some are afraid to reach out as this woman did, worried that pointing out a painful situation or asking questions might be offensive. If you are one who feels that way, please don’t. More than likely, your compassion and kindness will be viewed as just that—much needed, greatly appreciated--kindness and compassion. I promise, I left the store that day feeling blessed. So go ahead...reach out...dare to touch a heart, perhaps even change a life. You will be so glad you did!
God bless you, I love you...
Kathie Lea
~”And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it unto me!'” (Matthew 25:40)~
