fun in the grocery store

Saturday afternoon I was in the grocery store picking up a few groceries before my family came over for an early Easter celebration. The older gentleman behind me at the checkout had two items (one of those whole cooked chickens and something else). The Holy Spirit nudged me to ask the cashier to add his groceries to my bill. I like to do that every now and then. I was a little nervous though because the last time I did that in the same store I got some guy ticked off at me. I thought he was going to follow me out of the store and attack me in the parking lot. I was seriously scared. I took my chances and did it again. When the cashier gave him his bags and said they were paid for, he was totally confused. I just smiled at him. He came close to me and immediately told me a joke. (I'm the worst at remembering jokes.) He said, "Did you hear about the blonde who was asked which was closer, the moon or Florida?" She said, "Duh, the moon is closer. I can see it!" I just laughed. Then he came closer to me and tried to hand me a ten dollar bill but I told him no. You would have thought I gave him a million dollars. He was so appreciative and told me he was going to go right home and write it on his calendar. I guess when you get his age that's what you do. Later, as I thought about it again, I wondered if he had anyone to share his chicken? If not, I'm happy to have made him smile for that minute in the grocery store through a little random act of kindness. I'm hoping he saw the love of Jesus even though I didn't mention His name; maybe I should have.

I know God tells us in Matthew Chapter 6 that we are supposed to do these things and not tell anyone. I'm telling you this because I don't need God's reward here. It only cost me ten bucks, but I got way more out of it than he did and you might want to try it one day for yourself. 

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:1-4)

Have a great Monday and go do something nice for someone. It feels so good!