I Am My Sister's Keeper

You can find a life philosophy anywhere.  I found one in line at Trader Joe's behind a well-dressed woman with a bulging shopping cart.

I stood behind her with my one jar of pineapple salsa, looking woebegone.  I gazed at my one item, then at her mountain of quasi-gourmet goodies, then at my jar again.  She looked oblivious.  I thought about saying, "Excuse me, but would you mind if I slipped in front of you?  I just have one item and can pay cash." 

Well, actually, I thought about saying, "Didn't your momma teach you better?" but that would have not been in the spirit of doing the right thing.

The next day, I'm picking up fresh fish at Haggens.  I grocery shop most days, so standing in line I usually have time to ponder the mysteries of the universe, such as, "Is Copper River Salmon for $27.99 a pound truly better, or is it a big marketing hype?"

Yet again, I'm behind a bulging cart with a couple of items in my hand.  To distract myself, I consider reading whether the Bachelorette is a good girl or a good-time girl.  I almost miss hearing, "Why don't you go ahead of me?"  When I slide in front of my beneficent stranger, I share my Trader Joe's experience from the day before.  She responds, "I don't understand passing up the opportunity to do a good deed."

"Me, either," I say.

On the way to the parking lot, I spot an elderly woman wrestling her groceries into her car, while trying to hold on to her shopping cart.  I grab the cart from her, and she seems startled.

"I can drop it off in the rack," I say, adding to help her keep face, "it's on my way."

She nods her gratitude.  While shoving her cart down the designated slot, it gives me a chance to think.  How many people would have passed her by, without a second glance?  How many people would have seen her challenges and thought, "I'm not my brother's keeper.  I'm in a hurry."  Would I have been so emboldened, if I hadn't just been on the receiving end of a kind deed?

My prayer is simple.  "I hope so."  After all, if we aren't here to take care of each other, then what's the point? 

I really want to know.

Posted by Bliss at 7/12/2010 11:52 AM
Categories: Women's Wisdom, spirituality
Tags: positive attitude spirituality
 
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