Growing old in Grace

Greetings!

In the parking lot of a store, I unloaded bags of grocery into the trunk of my car.  I made a little noise as I tried to lift the 24-pack bottles of water from the shopping cart.  A young woman about 30 feet away immediately asked if I needed help.  She and a man about her age were talking to an older man.  With a joyful smile, I said, "No, thank you!"  Later, I walked over there and thanked her for her kindness.

I met kind people all the time.  

One afternoon, the mail carrier also offered to help me carrying the groceries.  One day, a young woman who happened to walk by wanted to help me too.  On another day, a young man who lived in another building wanted to help me as well.  He was nice and polite.  Their kindness made my day.  On those occasions, I talked to them for a short while thanking them for being so kind, and sent them blessings in my heart as we parted ways.

One day in a store, a man is his 40 s seemed to be following me in a distance.  He dressed like someone who worked in an office.  I kind of looked back at him.  I sensed no ill intention.  On his face was a delightful smile as if he saw something in me.  At one point, I stopped to look at some items on the top shelf.  He quickly walked forward.  I got it he wanted to help me to get what I wanted to buy from the top shelf.  So I asked for his help.  He gladly got it for me.  Joyfully, he walked away and did not follow me anymore.

Years ago, I rarely asked for help to get something that I could not reach.  If I could not get something from the top, I might use another item to bring it down and catch it with my hand.  However, I had learned to allow others to help me was also a service.  (Re   Helping others and allowing others to help you can both be a source of joy  )  

Whenever I needed help in a store, I usually asked someone that looked friendly or cheerful.  One day while I was pondering who I should ask to help me, I saw a man walked past me.  He was tall and slim.  On his face was a look of gloomy as if he was depressed or sad.  I called out to him, "Sir, would you please help me . . ."  He walked back and got me two frozen TV dinners from the top shelf.  I looked into his eyes and said truthfully, "Thank you very much for your help."  We soon came across each other in the next lane.  I was glad to see that the gloominess on his face was gone!  We greeted each other with a smile.

One day, I was on my way out of a store.  I saw a store employee sitting on a bench by the customer service center.  He was a senior like me, and was probably taking a break.  He looked very tired.  He took out a small towel to wipe the sweats on his face.  In my heart, I sent him blessings.  To my surprise, he seemed to hear what I said in my heart.  He stopped in the midst of wiping his sweats.  He looked at me and said, "Thank you, thank you, Madam!  May you have a blessed day too!"  (It reminded me of other occasions where people actually received my thought.  See  Is our thought a secret known only to ourselves )

After the incidents in Who smiles? Who sees? , I allowed myself to smile more.  Recently I had an amazing experience.  As a mother and grandmother, I loved seeing families with children that happily shopped in stores.  I saw a family of three generations (grandparents, parents and two small children).  I smiled at this family.  They happened to notice that.  All of them, young and old, looked at me and let out the most wonderful smiles!  I still remembered the light in their eyes and their total smiles.  Thank you for the gift.

Autumn is here.  Earth / the world is going through many changes.  Take care.

Many Blessings,

Q of D