Hope Spot 38 – What’s a few cents worth?

It only cost me 15 cents. 

And all it was, was a plastic bag. 

Yet, it changed the day for at least four people. 

My Saturday morning ritual is to go to the supermarket early, and grab the weekend papers while the ink is barely dry. 

(I’m old-fashioned and still like the feel of newsprint, and seeing the stories spread over the table beneath my bowl of cereal and cup of super-strength coffee.)  

In front of me in the queue at the supermarket was a gentleman who had made the same mistake I always do … 

… bringing enough shopping bags for what’s on my list, but not enough for all the impulse purchases I found I just had to have! 

When the gentleman had paid for his goods,  
it became clear he was one shopping bag short. 

While he had two bags safely locked away, he struggled in vain to juggle the bulky Froot Loops and Soft White bread in under his arm … 

… as meanwhile two cans of baked beans saw their chance to make a break for freedom. 

The girl at the register enquired whether he wanted another bag … and he did … but that would require putting down all his groceries … pulling out his wallet … swiping his card to pay 15 cents … then frowning at the transaction fee which would likely cost more than 15 cents. 

That’s when the broccoli decided to bolt. 

Of course, no sensible diet should ever include anything as healthy-but-blecch-tasting as broccoli (‘Trees’, my dad calls them, ‘and no one should have to eat trees!’) … 

… but the bolting broccoli was the decider.  

The Grocery Gentleman sighed, and nodded he needed another bag. 

That’s when I told the girl at the register to simply add it to my bill. 

She went into a kind of shock – they hadn’t told her about this in training. The guy behind me waiting to buy smokes got excited that things were moving. The Grocery Gentleman protested ‘No, no’. 

But I insisted. In a few seconds, all was sorted. 

The Grocery Gentleman couldn’t stop saying thank you, or hide the surprised smile that was bigger than the sunrise waking up outside. 

A 15 cents shopping bag. 

It cost me just about nothing … 

… but this tiny kindness impacted the Grocery Gentleman, the Register Girl and the Smokes Man. Me, too.  

So simple, but so special. 

Friend, I wanted to tell you that story to remind you to never underestimate the power of your kindness.  

Sometimes, you may question whether you do ‘enough’. Other times, you may not be able to do all you want to do. You may even get a little annoyed at being asked to help again. 

Today, just know that every kindness is precious … 
… and worth more than what it costs in dollars. 

You’ll see that when your new Gifts of Grace arrives one month from today. There are gifts starting at $3 … but also one that is a $13,000+ investment. 

Both are precious. 

The other thing you’ll discover in your new Gifts of Grace is the power of poo!  

I’ll say no more than that now … 

… but when you receive your new catalogue, you’ll also receive a FREE children’s book, Nathan and his Fluffy Fertiliser Factory. That’s when it will all make sense (cents)! 

(HINT: This Christmas, in a fresh new way, you’ll be able to show any children in your life – and perhaps their parents too – why kindness to others at Christmas is worth so much.) 

That’s all for today 

… except to thank you again for all you do for others through ALWS, especially those overlooked and forgotten by the world. You are a blessing ALWayS. 

PS: The man with the groceries at the supermarket was an African Australian. My prayer is that 15 cents shopping bag said ‘Welcome’ louder than words.