It was just a typical day. After dropping off the kiddos at school, I set out to run a few errands.
As usual, I saved Trader Joe’s for last.
It’s kind of my happy place. The beautiful fresh flowers, the friendly employees, the free samples, 20 different kinds of hummus and the assorted cheeses which I’ve never heard of but I’m quite certain I need to try before I leave this earth.
So, there I was with my basket loaded with items which made me feel like some kind of swanky health-nut but, in reality, would probably not be all that handy when it came time to make dinner that night.
I got in line behind a young woman with 2 little boys who were happily picking out their stickers from the giant sticker bin.
Suddenly I noticed that the woman seemed flustered and that the sales transaction had come to a screeching halt.
She began digging through her wallet and then through her pockets and all the while I could physically feel her embarrassment beginning to rise.
“I’m so sorry”, she said. “I don’t seem to have enough money to buy it all.”
After a quick glance at the line of people behind her, she began sorting through the items, selecting which ones she would need to put back.
And at that same exact moment, I felt this stirring in my heart.
I needed to do something.
I HAD to do something.
As I stood there in full awareness of this ‘nudging’ towards action, I watched as the young woman grabbed the two little boys by their hands and led them out the door.
I pushed my cart forward and the cashier began ringing up my items. Glancing down, I noticed the little pile of items she had chosen not to purchase. Or rather, the items she wasn’t able to purchase.
There was that stirring again. A nudging. It came from deep within my soul and I knew that this was one of those defining moments in life.
Pointing to the little pile of items, I asked the cashier to add them to my purchase. And then I asked if there was someone who could hurry out to the parking lot and take them to her.
I didn’t want her to know that they were from me.
The cashier signaled for someone to come over and explained that the bag needed to be taken out to the woman who had just left. Then as we both turned our attention back towards my purchases, our tear-filled eyes met.
She said, “thank you for doing that for her.”
I fumbled over my words for a moment before replying, “I just had to.”
Then I paid for my items and headed out the door towards my car. As I made my way through the parking lot, I glanced around quickly and was relieved that I couldn’t see ‘her’ anywhere.
Just as I was reaching my car I heard a voice yell, “hey!”
I turned to the left and there she was.
“Are you the one who paid for those groceries?” she asked.
I felt pinned in and didn’t want to lie so I simply nodded my head and said, “yes“.
“Thank you so much!” she said.
“Oh, it was really no problem at all.“, I replied.
I smiled at her. She smiled back. We were having a moment.
And then she said,
“I’m the nanny and I was trying to get everything on the list that their mom wanted but she didn’t give me enough cash to cover everything. I really do appreciate you helping though!“
And before I could even think of how to reply, she walked over to a very large, very new, very luxurious SUV, hopped in and drove off.
I stood there stunned for a moment.
She was the nanny? THE NANNY?
You mean, she wasn’t a struggling young mom trying to make ends meet?
You mean, those weren’t even HER kids?
HUH?
Slowly I loaded my own groceries into my own much older, far more used, not even close to as luxurious SUV, returned the cart to whatever that cart storage thing is called and climbed into my car.
I sat there for a long time. I didn’t know whether to cry or to laugh. So I did a little of both.
How could that have happened?
I felt like I had gotten it all wrong.
And as I sat there in my car, alternating between feeling dumbfounded over the fact that I had just paid a grocery bill for people who were probably a lot more well off than I was and wiping away tears of confusion, I began to question God.
Did I misinterpret the ‘nudging’ and the ‘stirring’ ? I was so convinced, so sure that this young woman truly needed help, MY help, and that I was blessing her by paying for her groceries.
I knew that what I had felt stirring in me was definitely from the Lord.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26
So, how could I have totally missed the mark?
You see, at this particular time in my life, I had been experiencing a real sense of being dry in my faith. Stalled. Stale. And when I had listened to the nudging and felt so thrilled that I was able to help someone it felt like a kind of ‘mountaintop’ experience. You know the ones, right? Where you feel like you are on top of the world and it’s just so thrilling and satisfying!
So, to basically fall straight down that mountainside right onto the hard ground left me feeling very defeated.
But, the longer I sat there, the more aware I was of another stirring in my soul. One that led to a very specific question repeatedly running around and around in my head.
WHAT IF?
What if my paying those groceries had impacted that cashier?
What if it stirred something in the heart of the nanny?
or
What if it was actually just for my own benefit?
Stay with me here.
During this season of dry-ness in my soul, that nudging was like turning on a faucet and feeling the cool water pour over all of the parched places.
It was the realization that no matter how dry, how parched, how stale I thought my faith had become, because I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, I have been given the great gift of His Spirit living inside me. And that means that below the surface of what felt like a desert, there was ‘living water’.
And, “Whoever believes in me, as scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38
What if paying for those groceries was simply God’s way of reminding me that He was there.
He’s there with me on those mountaintops and He’s there with me in the desert.
What if it had less to do with everyone else and more to do with me?
If the nanny was blessed by it? Bonus! If that cashier was blessed by it? Double bonus!
But, at the end of the day I was the one who was really given the biggest blessing of all.
If you like this post you might also enjoy reading “Ordering Pizza is my Spiritual Gift“
And now you’ve blessed me with this story, Vanessa. Easter blessings to you and yours – xo Heidi
Very powerful Vanessa. Thank you for sharing and your insight is amazing. Wishing you and your family a very blessed Easter from Pike Road! Miss you sweet friend!
Beautiful post. You brought tears to my eyes. This incident may not have impacted that nanny, but it impacted me- and will affect the many who read this. Thank you for buying those groceries and for sharing this story.
A beautiful testimony, Vanessa. I think your perspective is spot on. I was on the receiving end of something similar a couple of weeks ago. I’m not someone who is financially “in need”, but it was such a blessing to me.
The intention of the deed is what really counts here. Great story.
What you did was a great thing and I’m so glad you came to the realization that regardless of who this woman was or what she was driving didn’t matter and that was NOT the point. The point is that you made an impact — regardless of the circumstances. You impacted the cashier, the nanny, bystanders, yourself and all of us who read your post. No kind deed goes unnoticed. Every day my husband visits a local burger/soda drive-in called “Sonic” – don’t know if you have them in your area, but they’re extremely popular where I live in the heartland of our country. Almost every day, when my husband reaches the drive-thru window to pay for his “Coke Zero Route 66 drink with extra ice” he will always pay for the order of the car behind him; regardless of what model or make of the car. It’s his random act of kindness. And I know, that regardless of the social status or wealth of the person driving the car, they are surprised and impacted when they reach the window to pay for their order only to find out that it was paid by an anonymous person who simply wanted to do a kind thing. Hopefully, all who witness these types of acts will be inspired to do similar acts and hopefully the recipient of the act of kindness will pay it forward. What a wonderful way for this world to go round.
You listened to God speaking to your heart and your actions did impact the others around you. Even if she was a nanny driving an incredibly expensive SUV. {that part was kinda funny!}.
Blessings!
~ Ashley
Happy Easter to you friend. I adore you and this story…..I would have done the exact same thing!
🙂 me
Beautiful! God asks us to obey, He nudged and you obeyed…the rest is up to Him!
Blessings,
Cindy
What a funny, but powerful story! I think everyone can relate to how you felt, both before and after you spoke with the nanny. I think what it really comes down to is that God calls us to love everyone…our ‘neighbor’ is not limited to only those we deem desperately in need of our kindness, but that’s a very easy trap to fall into, myself included. This story reminds me of those who stand on corners with signs asking for money. I hear so many people comment that they don’t give anything because that person might not really need it, and it might be a scam. I used to think that way myself but now I always try to give something to those people…God will take care of the rest, but at least I didn’t pass an opportunity to show Christ’s love. Those who seem to have ‘no need’ of help, sometimes need it the most 🙂
Thanks for making me sob at my desk with this touching story. Mascara on chin, check. Eyes all red now, check. Nose running, check. Heartfilled happiness CHECK.
Blessings to all on this holy weekend!
And now we are all belssed by it too!!! Thank you so much for sharing that story. I had tears in my eyes also.
So glad that I am able to “know” and follow a fellow believer 🙂
~Cheryl
http://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com/
Such a special post and Blessing to everyone. Perfect for this Easter season to remind us the Lord is always here.
Vanessa, Vanessa, I love you dear one. This was the perfect lead-in to a very special weekend. I,too, have been rather stale lately. Seeking answers, fighting business, doing everything but being quiet and listening. Thank you for being obedient and I have to tell you that my gut says this might be all about the real mother of those children…. the one who seemingly doesn’t need anything… the one who seemingly has it all…. the one who just might be empty and broken and who has never had anyone do anything like that for her before. Perhaps there would have been h… to pay if that Nanny had come home with a partial list completed. We just never know but my experience is that it is harder to reach the “up and outs” than it is the “down and outs”.
Many blessings. And happy Resurrection Day!!!
xoxoxo
You had me laughing and then shed a few tears! You shared Jesus in you by that little deed to the nanny, the cashier, and maybe just a bystander – who knows, maybe they will share the story with others . . . maybe just a tiny seed was planted in their lives . . . and someday someone else will water that seed . . . and someday God will reap the harvest! “Make me a blessing to someone today” – that’s what you did! What a wonderful post for this Good Friday! Blessings to you and your family this Easter weekend! God’s not dead – He is Alive!
You have blessed so many by sharing this story, thank you! I too have felt The Lord nudging me at different times and I always remember the times that I did not act on those feelings. How many opportunities have I missed to act like Christ and show His Love to others? Of course, I probably will never know, but now when I feel the slightest “nudge” I pray that I don’t hesitate for even a moment!!!!!! God will bless you !!!!!!!!
Your have blessed us all!!! The Holy Spirit is a gentleman who speaks to us, but it is we ourselves who must CHOOSE to do his bidding. He was promised us at Pentecost and will forever be on our shoulder whispering things in our ears. Maybe the Nanny would have been in trouble without those items. You will never know. But you WILL know you followed God’s word and his bidding. That is what counts. Thank you for this. I am personally under extreme stress and this story lifted me and reminded me that I, too, must lean on the Holy Spirit to tell me what to do. Thank you so much!!!
Thank you – what a great reminder that God does put us in places and nudges or pushes us to do things we would not normally do. And sometimes it is just to lubricate our dry bones or a dry spirit. Happy Easter!
Amen.
I’m glad you followed the “nudging”. But isn’t it wonderful how God’s plan turns out differently when we let Him be in charge? Your original plan enhanced by God – WONDERFUL! I am finding so many sweet Christians since I was introduced to the blogging world. Each blog has certainly enhanced my life.
What a beautiful story, Vanessa! Your kindness brought tears to my eyes and the end an “Oh, wow!” Your good deed still counted in “His” eyes from above!
Have a wonderful Easter with your family.
JP
Beautiful story. I had a similar experience once, which is too long to share. The bottom line was that a group of people chose to financially help a friend who may or may not have actually needed the money. I felt I had to be a part of that, even if it turned out she didn’t. To this day I don’t know for sure, but I suspect she was using us. My lesson learned was that it is better to help even though there may not be a legitimate reason, than not help when a person is truly in need. I did what God asked me to do, and so did you. Thank you for sharing.
Vanessa, I have been in the same situations where God was nudging my heart to help someone then only to be left with questions as to why because it did not turn out as I had expected. What God has shown me over the years is what is most important is being OBEDIENT. If we are not obedient in the small things that God asks us to do, then how can HE trust us to be obedient in the bigger opportunities he has planned for us. I belive this was God’s way of seeing your obedience and preparing you for what HE has in store for you and letting you know HE is still there with you. Yes, the nanny was blessed and the cashier was able to see that there is still good in the world. However, you were the one who received the greatest blessing of all. You were obedient to God and he will bless you for that. Deuteronomy 28:2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God. Have a blessed and Happy Easter.
I once felt I too was to give money to someone in need. I gave her the cash and didn’t ask how she would spend it. Later she called me and said she had bought concert tickets that she couldn’t use and wanted to know if I wanted to buy them. (They were worth the exact amount I have given her.) I told her no thank you, since I wasn’t interested. She had complained to me that she didn’t have money for food or gas. I though that is what she was going to spend the money on. I felt I was supposed to do it and I did. How she spent the money was between her and God. It wasn’t my business or problem. I actually had a feeling she would blow the money before I even gave it to her. But as you say, we don’t know the reason, and the good news is we don’t need to know. Great story with a twist!!
I like happy endings. A great story on Good Friday!
If you had done nothing and not seen the woman get in the SUV, you still would feel guilty for doing nothing. Yes, you paid it forward and did the right thing. As you said, you don’t know how many people witnessed your kind deed and were impacted by it. Yesterday a lady stopped her car so I could walk across the street even though there were five cars behind her, an hour later I held a building door open for a man from a laundry company who was pushing a huge and heavy cart full of laundry. He probably went on and did a random act of kindness later that day. You never know how doing one kind deed will inspire the people around here to do the same.
The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways! Thank you for sharing this with us, because the Lord has now worked His ways with all of us!
Vanessa what an incredible experience. I had a similar one a few weeks ago with an elderly lady and I have no idea if anyone else was impacted but I was and that’s enough.
Wow. What a beautiful experience. We never know the impact we have by saying yes, even if it doesn’t seem like it to us!
Your post brought me to tears! What a timely message for Easter! We serve a risen Savior and He was was beside you that day, You see! by posting this, you’ve done exactly what the Holy Spirit was nudging you to do….share your love and faith! Thank you for this and all your wonderful posts!! Happy Easter!!! Alleluia He is Risen!!!
“…lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5,6
We don’t see the big picture, but He does. You were moved by the Spirit, you responded. Don’t try to figure it out, just enjoy the happiness you gave and received in your spiritual obedience and generosity. Blessings at Easter.
What a beautiful story and a wonderful reminder. We all have dry, parched parts of our soul that need some refreshing and reading this certainly helped me today!! Happy Easter, sweet friend and can’t wait to see you next week! xo
Happy Easter, What a terrific and moving experience. I am often guilty of judging who really needs help at our church food pantry and reading your story has helped me to stop and reflect that Jesus did not judge those He helped and that we need to do what is the right thing to do. I am sure your act of kindness has reached many more than you will ever know.
I have had similar moments. The kind where you question yourself because things didn’t work at as you had hoped, envisioned, or thought they would. I think you were so right to look deeper and think of the ways that it did work out. Even for yourself. There is nothing like the feeling of helping someone. You get the joy back tenfold. I know your heart was in the absolute right place. You are a wonderful person Vanessa!
Thank you so much sweet friend! 🙂
Thank you so much for blessing us with your story. God bless
Vannessa – you have blessed me, thank you for posting this. May I be as obedient in responding to His nudges!
What a fabulous story with an unseen twist at the end! The Nanny! But you made the connection that the lesson is often in obeying, not questioning. God is proud of you, and so am I.
I knew I liked you!
This truly touched me today! Thank you!!! I work in a food pantry every week and I often question why I’m doing it. Often times people seem ungrateful and look like they don’t need our help. Then other days I see people who break down and cry as I pray for them. I come home some days and question God, but at the end of the day I always feel that gentle nudge of him saying “it’s not for you to decide who needs my help, just be my hands and feet.”
Vanessa, Thanks for sharing your story. I probably would have done the same thing you did…at least I hope I would. I think you were blessed by your actions…I think that was the point. Did you feel like you were doing the right thing? Did you feel good about it..until you learned the facts. You are a good person and I’m proud to know you.
We never know who is watching…perhaps the person behind you was not a Christian but noticed what you did. I do believe that if we respond to the Holy Spirit’s calling, as you did, someone will be blessed by it.
This hit me between the eyes like a bullseye. I have ben studying the Holy Spirit and His role in my life and how I can better listen to His voice and often times I think it is for the “other” person’s benefit that I am doing God’s will. I am constantly reminded that because I have listened to His voice, I have chosen to continue in relationship with Him and therefore I have benefitted just as greatly as the person I was supposed to help.
He is one amazing God and so thankful the His voice is audible to me.
Keep listening and the spring will flow more every day.
Have a great and awesome weekend of commune with Him!
Once, in a local college town fifteen miles from me, I saw a man sitting at an intersection. I pulled up at the light, rolled my window down, and held a 20.00 bill out towards him… he literally lunged at the door, grabbed it from my hand with no word… and took off at a run. Drugs? Food? I’ll never know to this day. I had to laugh and then be mad for a SECOND…. and never forgot it. Did it stop me from doing the same many times after? No… and I’ve never had it happen again. You can’t give up.