FIFTY ACTS OF KINDNESS -- DAY NINE -- Why did this act fall in my lap? (It's easy)
MY KIND OF LADY
(For those of you that are following, here’s my early morning. For those of you that just joined us, please read the previous posts and LIKE me on Facebook to hear more.)
"You saved my life!" the check out lady at Trader Joe’s said to the woman departing the store. I assumed the check out lady, let’s call her Amber, was kidding. People say that all the time. They don’t really mean it. So I smiled as I stepped up in line. "Oh, now, she’s saved your life. What can I do?"
It was a joke. I thought Amber was talking about a referral to a good mechanic or advise on how to get rid of rats in her compost. (This is Seattle) She was smiling, happy and wearing a bright pink Trader Joe’s t-shirt. What could possibly be wrong with this adorable lady? Every time I’ve seen her at the checkout line she’s in a perpetually good mood.
Amber told me that she was trying to quit smoking because the next step for her was a tracheotomy. And drinking too because after one drink, she wanted to smoke. As she spoke I noticed that strong teeth were stained and her beautiful face had more than a few worry lines. She was also bursting with energy.
While she bagged groceries, Amber explained that her co-workers at Trader Joe’s were her support group, as was the customer who just left. Amber’s husband smoked and wanted to keep smoking in the house. This took a total of one minute. Amber wasn’t complaining. She was determined. I said I didn’t have anything to offer. I’d never smoked, seriously.
"Pray for me!" she said brightly. "That would be great." Kind of an odd request with a checkout counter full of hummous and Greek yogurt between us. But at the same time, perfectly normal.
I looked her straight in the eyes, nodding my head. “I will.” It was so easy and felt incredible. She thanked me and we said goodbye.
Of course, my teenaged daughter thought it was funny, this little exchange. But it perfectly illustrated what my main character in FIFTY ACTS OF KINDNESS learns. People just need support; just put aside your agenda for a moment and listen. Maya Angelou called this being a humanitarian.
I didn’t realize until that night, as I prayed, that this was my ninth act of kindness. It’s easy.
Onward.
Ellyn Oaksmith is the author of funny, twisty contemporary novels such as Adventures with Max and Louise and Divine Moves. Please visit Ellyn at Ellyn Oaksmith.com, Facebook and Twitter.
USA:
http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Max-Louise-Originally-published-ebook/dp/B009NFNDR0
http://www.amazon.com/Divine-Moves-Ellyn-Oaksmith-ebook/dp/B00H1ZC8UW
UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adventures-Max-Louise-Ellyn-Oaksmith/dp/0062268112/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410972490&sr=8-1&keywords=adventures+with+max+and+louise
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Divine-Moves-Ellyn-Oaksmith-ebook/dp/B00H1ZC8UW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410972455&sr=8-1&keywords=divine+moves
