The following is a true story shared with me:
"I was frustrated. I had spent the day shopping for friends who were rich and famous and had it all. I didn't know what to get them. I went from store to store hoping that something would jump out at me, but nothing did. I went home feeling I had wasted a whole day.
The next day, I stopped by the local store to buy some supplies for myself for Christmas. When I got to the checkout counter, I waited patiently as a young mother in front of me emptied her very full cart. Most of it was groceries, but she had gotten a couple of toys as well. When it came time for her to pay, she handed the cashier a card. "This isn't enough," the cashier informed her. The young woman pulled out another card and swiped it. I wasn't sure what was happening, but I noticed she kept swiping the same card. "Debit?" asked the cashier. "Yes," she said and swiped it again.
I looked away, but soon noticed she was rummaging through her purse. I heard her say, "My paycheck must not have come through yet," and saw her searching for money. Her hands were visibly shaking. I listened now, as the woman found a couple twenties and handed them over. It was not enough to pay the balance. "Twenty-one forty eight," the cashier said. The mother put her purse down and looked at her cart. Then she began pulling toys out of her cart and putting them on the conveyer belt.
Realizing what was up, I whipped out my wallet and pulled out twenty-two dollars. I handed it to the cashier, who looked at me with surprise. As I nodded towards the mother, she took my money. "Honey," she said to the mother, "she's got the rest and she's paying for you." The mother stopped and slowly turned. She looked at me with surprise and gratitude. "You don't have to do this," she said quietly. "I know," I replied. "I'm doing it because I want to. Merry Christmas." She turned away to put the toys back in her cart.
The cashier punched a button and the drawer opened. As she handed me my change, I noticed that the young mother was wiping tears from her cheeks. The cashier noticed too, and tears formed in her eyes. "You don't often see this," she said to the shopper behind me. "I've been a recipient of kindness," I replied. "Now it's my chance to pass it on." The mother turned and thanked me again. Then she pushed her cart forward and disappeared.
When I left, I felt that I was the one who had been given the gift. I had spent a whole day shopping for people who needed nothing. God let me find the person who really needed a gift. When I gave that gift to the mother who ran out of money, I felt that it was rather I who was gifted."
God gives us opportunities to give true gifts. We need just be open and ready.
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