Samaritan Strangers

Two weeks ago I was checking out at Target. It was a large purchase, and it wasn't until the last few items were being scanned that I noticed that I had left my wallet in the diaper bag... in the car... flustered, I explained my predicament to the cashier who gave me a warm smile and told me not to worry, just to retrieve it. So I gathered Charlie in my arms, hurried across the long expanse of the parking lot (I'm one of those weird people that parks in the boonies) and hurried back. I thanked the cashier and gave an apologetic look at the woman behind me in line. She shrugged nonchalantly and said with a sincere smile, "we've all done that at least once." On my way out of the store, as I tried to carry my frustrated baby in one arm and push the cart with the other, a different lady with two elementary school aged daughters ambled up next to me and asked, "can we help you to your car?" To which I gladly accepted, and they did.

Last Saturday, I was chatting with Kevin on the phone while I filled up the Jeep. After an awesome hike, I realized my car was running on fumes and prayed as I coasted down the mountain that I'd make it to Will's Pit Stop... which thankfully, I barely did! As I talked with him, the fact that it was my birthday came up in conversation, and as I pumped gas into the car I rattled on about how awesome the hike was and Kevin told me about how he finished his homework. As I finished up and started to climb back into the car, a man from the next pump over shouted, "HEY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Startled, I smiled and thanked him. He'd overheard my conversation and just up and decided to wish me well.

Today I was at the checkout again. This time at Walmart, with some new garden plants and some veggie-fruit-plant-friendly pesticides (you see, these nasty little insects destroyed my cilantro, zucchini, and parsley! But they haven't gotten the better of me. I'M DETERMINED TO HAVE A GARDEN!!). Charlie was strapped to my chest, and bending over to grab the plants from the cart and put them on the conveyor belt took me twice as long as normal. A young woman in front of me turned and asked, "can I help you with those?" After I nodded she took all my plants out, helped the cashier get them scanned, and then waited to put them all back into my cart. Her name was Dye (sp?), and she was on her way to make Elote for a barbecue fiesta.

GUYS, THERE ARE SAMARITAN STRANGERS EVERYWHERE. THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE WHO DO WHAT JESUS WOULD DO. WE JUST NEED TO RECOGNIZE THEM. AND AS OFTEN AS WE'RE ABLE, WE NEED TO CHOOSE TO BE THEM.