Pay it forward

This letter to the editor was in our local paper on Monday. I think it is worth sharing!

"On May 29, I experienced something that has never happened to me before. I was at Wal-Mart on McGalliard with my significant other, our son, my sister-in-law and her new baby. We were at the checkout line when a young woman came up to us and asked us if she could pay for our groceries. We were speechless and really did not know what to say. We asked what the catch was. and she explained she was being nice. She walked up and paid $136 and some change for our items. She handed us the receipt and walked away. We knew her name because it was on the receipt, Danielle Wright.
Danielle started "pay it forward" that day. We went to lunch and bought the two people behind us lunch. They in return, told us that they would buy someone's lunch tomorrow. When we got home we told our two older boys what had happened and that the stranger had actually bought them two shirts. The boys went next door and mowed the neighbors yard. We talked to the neighbor later and told him why we did it and he thanked us because his mower was broken. He was in the process of fixing the mower and told us that he was going to mow his neighbors, yard the next day while they were on their honeymoon.
If someone presents you with a Random Act of Kindness, thank them and pass it on. This was an experience that we will never forget."

How awesome is that?? The Muncie newspaper tends to print, in my opinion, lots of negative stories and to see this in the paper really got to me!
Tonight, we were at Wal-mart picking up some things for our church's youth group. Fred was paying and I wandered down to a check-out several aisles over to talk to a friend. There was a man in that aisle in one of those motorized wheelchairs. He was trying to get all his groceries out of the big basket on front of the wheelchair. Without even thinking, I asked if I could help him and he accepted. I put all his groceries on the belt for him and then loaded them all back into his basket. He thanked me over and over. Right then, Fred walked over and it turns out that he knew the guy I'd been helping! He is one of Fred's patients at the pharmacy. He shook Fred's hand and told him what a help I'd been. Walking out, Fred told me what a nice man that guy was and that he'd been given a hard row to hoe, as far as health problems and wasn't very well.
It wasn't a big thing, not like paying $136 for someone's groceries, but it feels so good to help someone out.
I challenge you to do the same...Today!! I'd love to hear your stories too!