Giving and Receiving

It is more blessed to give than to receive ~ The Bible

Most of us, I imagine, are more comfortable being on the giving end of things than on the receiving.

We donate to our churches, political parties, schools, charitable causes. We give freely of our time and talents to our families and communities.

But what happens when we’re thrust into the role of receiving help?

A few days ago, I went to a local restaurant to pick up dinner for my mom and me.

‘Here, take all these coins,’ she said. ‘They’re making my purse too heavy to carry.’

Well, okay.

So I counted out a slew of nickels, dimes, and quarters with an eye toward exchanging them for two meals.

Nobody was behind me in line when I started to pay. Four quarters = one dollar; ten dimes, ditto.

When I got about halfway done counting, I looked up and noticed three men standing behind me.

Probably wondering if I’d had to raid my kid’s piggy bank to buy food!

I apologized, but they assured me they weren’t in a hurry.

Good thing, for it was about to get worse.

I asked the cashier how much I still owed and saw to my dismay that I was one penny short.

For a second, I stood there, wondering how I could have miscalculated.

Why I hadn’t brought my purse inside with me.

And if I dared disrupt these patrons further by saying I had to return to my car for a cent.

The man immediately behind me reached into his pants pocket and pulled out some change. He fished around and found a penny.

‘There you go,’ he announced.

From my reaction, you’d have thought he’d bought me another Sheltie!

As I waited for my order to-go, I again debated racing to the car so I could pay this kind stranger back.

Then I decided not to.

Let him have the satisfaction of knowing he helped me out.

Let him be blessed as I was.