The Kindness of a Stranger

It had been a day full of appointments. I decided a little shopping before heading home would be a nice ending. I had my eye on some outdoor furniture, and Eva had some money she was eager to spend. We would need to be quick about it; however, It was close to nap time for Charlotte. We did not want an angry, tired infant on our hands.

I began looking at the outdoor furniture sets while Eva looked for a new stuffed animal to accompany our out-of-control collection. A lovely house plant caught my eye, so we added it to our shopping cart. Charlotte found the leaves extremely interesting and spent her time investigating each one.

We shopped from section to section, enjoying ourselves, forgetting all about the time.

Sensibility snapped in the checkout line. Charlotte hit her limit. She was hungry, sleepy, and ready to get out of the shopping cart. My arms seemed to be her place of comfort. I single-handedly unloaded the small items from the shopping cart while the cashier scanned the more oversized items, including the outdoor furniture one of the stockmen had pulled down for me. As I shuffled two kids and a cart full of shopping pleasures, the line grew behind me. I turned to the gentlemen and sarcastically joked, “I saw this going a bit differently.” He laughed and told me to take my time- it was comical to watch.

As we exited the store, I had Charlotte in one arm, and I pushed the shopping cart with the other. Eva was beside me swinging her new bear, and the man helping with my carry-out was following us.

It was a perfect ending to a beautiful spring day. Or so I thought.

After the salesman loaded our large purchases, I thanked him and went to buckle in both of the girls before I put the small items in the back of the SUV. Once they were both strapped in, I finished loading then let down the door. It made it down, but right before it clicked, the door reversed. I stared with raised eyebrows. This was not happening! I tried another time. Yet again, the door changed direction before latching. The box containing the outdoor furniture set was sticking out less than half an inch, but it was enough to cover where the door needed to lock.

What was I going to do!? I had both girls buckled; the countdown had already begun on Charlotte, Eva was asking all kinds of questions, none of which I had answers to, and the door would not close!

I felt the temperature rise even warmer than outside as I tried to lift the furniture over the back seat. I attempted to angle it differently to get the door to close, but I could not get a grip to slide the heavy box forward. I thought about laying down the second row of seats, but the car seats stopped that thinking. It was no use. I was stuck. Pictures of Chuck’s face were invading my clarity. What was I going to do?!

It was then that I saw a lady pushing her cart to her vehicle. Indeed, she would help me if I asked nicely. I decided it was my only hope.

“SURE!” She spoke. “I would be glad to help!” “You know this is just the kind of thing that would happen to me if I was out shopping, get myself in a bind with no one to assist.” I laughed at the similarities.

We struggled to adjust the boxes. No matter what we tried, there was no getting the door to close. Trying to come up with a solution, she asked where I lived? I told her. She knew right where it was. It was close to her route home. She insisted on loading my furniture in her SUV and following me to my house. I humbly and, a little embarrassed agreed to the arrangement.

Eva mentioned how kind the lady had been to help us on the way home. I explained to her how God sends people our way when needed, even if it seems trivial. God cares about the big things and the small things.

Chuck met me in the driveway when we arrived home. He had a look on his face that demanded answers, but I felt it best to ignore it for the time.

Before she left, she told me our meeting was not by chance. The Lord designed it so that she might help someone that day. She further mentioned that when she saw me, she remembered the days of being a young mother, trying to wrangle her twins, and needing a helping hand once in a while. She said, “I always wondered who lived in this beautiful home. Now I know.”

Every time she passes by our home, I hope she smiles, and recollects the kindness she showed me. Above all, knowing the Howards live there.

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