The photo below is of me and someone I totally don’t know.
We did not exchange names, just a few words. “Thank you.” And “God bless your giving heart.“
I was at SM Hypermart Batangas on December 30. We stopped to grab a few things to add to our almost empty pantry on our way home from another errand. Lines were long and everyone’s cart was full. The usual last-minute shopping at year-end, you can say. As for me, I only needed sandwich spread, some tuna, and tomato ketchup. Most of what’s in my cart were cookies for the kids.
The Prestige line was also long, so I took the line that my husband deemed to be fast-moving. He decides for me like that. It was a Big Cart lane, but due to the long lines, they sort of disregarded that particular line protocol.
The man who took the line behind me was carrying a basket. With just a pack of Graham Crackers, a small refill pack of pineapple tidbits, a pack of All-Purpose Cream, and some chicken. One can guess what they’re planning to make.
The man was with a boy who appears to be his son. I don’t know, but as I was looking at him, I felt a tug in my heart, and I started to think of what I could possibly give him. In my cart were some Meiji Panda items. I told my husband, “Dad, I want to give that boy something, ok?” And of course, he said go ahead.
So I decided I’d give him a Choco Panda. But I had to wait until I’d paid for the items.
Then I thought I’d go buy some cake slices from Goldilocks.
My turn at the cashier finally came, and after paying, I handed a Chocolate Cake Slice to the boy. Until then I haven’t even noticed the lady behind me (after the man with the basket) on the line. But after handing the boy the cake, she asked the man, “Yan po ba ang handa n’yo sa bagong taon?” The man simply nodded with a small smile, while telling his son to say thank you to me. Then the lady said, “Ako na po magbabayad lahat n’yan.“
The man tried to refuse, but the lady insisted. And although we were in a hurry to leave after my things were bagged, I just felt a push to ask the lady for a selfie, and took the opportunity to thank her for what she did. Then my husband and I left.
I did not even know I was going to write a blog post about it until today. I originally planned to post the photo on Facebook with a shoutout to whoever the lady is. But here I am, looking back at something that happened so randomly, but has given me a massive inspiration to continue doing good, giving back, and paying it forward. I’m thinking that maybe, this post will inspire you, too.
At some point in our lives, someone has been kind to us. Let’s keep that kindness going. You’ll never know who and how many you can inspire with just a small act of kindness. Even to strangers. Especially to strangers.
Marge, also known as The Happy WAHM, is a virtual assistant who turned her passion for entrepreneurship into a worthy endeavor of offering complete business solutions to CEOs and business owners around the world. She turned her back on a thriving corporate career to become a hands-on mom and created a lifestyle that allowed her to build a homebased career, homeschool her children, and still have time to pursue her passion for arts and crafting.
She only posts her content on her website, TheHappyWAHM.com. If you see this content on someone else’s site then it is NOT by any means authorized.
