As a mom, I harbor the same bias most parents do. My kids, despite their faults & foibles, are awesome. Not saying they're perfect or beyond reproach,
because we've certainly weathered our share of troubles & setbacks, but my husband & I have always strived to instill in each of them a strong sense
of values, ethics, morals, & just plain good old fashioned gumption. All five are gainfully employed; one's a college grad, one's in the Army, the
youngest is in college. My husband & I aren't into organized religion, but we taught them the difference between right & wrong, & the Golden Rule of
how to treat others, hoping that our lessons took root.
Today, my youngest who's 19 & works part-time as a cashier at a grocery, came home & told me this.
She was invited to lunch by some co-workers, but she declined because she was broke. The co-workers (all but one named Emily) began to tease her about
being frivolous with her paycheck which is less than $100 a week, asking whether she had spent it on clothes or her boyfriend. She took the ribbing in
stride, yet refused to reveal what she had done with her money.
After lunch, there was a meeting in the office which everyone except her was called in for. When she clocked out, ready to leave for the day, her boss
called her over & handed her an envelope. In the envelope was $50.48. She was clueless as to why she was being given it, until the manager said,
"Emily told us why you couldn't afford lunch today."
It seems that last week an elderly customer, a little frail and stooped woman in her 80s & walking with a cane came through my daughter's checkout
lane. Her grocery order came to $50.48. She tried to pay for it with a debit card, but it hadn't been activated. My daughter tried to help her figure
out how to activate it, but after a couple of tries, it still hadn't gone thru. My daughter calls Emily over who also tries to help, but the process
required the woman's address, SS#, & other assorted personal info. The little old woman was a bit confused & both my daughter & Emily were
uncomfortable with getting that personal with that sort of sensitive info, so my daughter tells the lady to hold on a second. She goes outside to her
truck, retrieves her purse, comes inside, and proceeds to pay for the woman's groceries. It was the last bit of money my daughter had until this next
Tuesday when she gets her next check.
Emily, who had witnessed the whole thing, asked why she had done it after the woman had left My daughter explained that other than feeling terribly
sorry for the little old lady who might go hungry that night had she had to put the groceries back, but also that she had been raised to respect her
elders & to do unto others.
It was only after Emily heard my daughter being teased about being a spendthrift today that she shared with everyone my daughter's small act of
kindness & generosity, which in turn prompted everyone who had teased her to chip in to repay her. My daughter tried to refuse the money, but her boss
& co-workers wouldn't hear of it.
I honestly don't know whether they were shamed or inspired by my daughter's kindness, but I can tell you that I'm surely one damned proud Mom. I want
to think that there are more young people out there in this day & age of apathy, violence, self-absorption & entitlement mentality who also took to
heart the lessons of their youth, for in them lie the hope of the future.
edit on 16-11-2014 by ladyjem because: Typo