Skip to main content

A Surprise in the Groceries





I had favor in the grocery store that surprised me.   Another shopper lifted my spirits.  She was a giver not a taker.  I met her in the checkout line.  She motioned to go ahead of her because she was waiting for her husband.  He returned just as I began to load my 20 or so items on the belt!   As I hunted for my rewards card in my purse, I noticed her next to me again, this time in front of me and not behind.  “Is it OK if I bag your groceries?”  I thanked her.  The cashier thanked her.  She responded: “I haven’t dropped your eggs yet so that’s good!”  I chided:  “Are you the type that can’t stand still for a second?”  Laughing, she said:  “I didn’t want to have to squeeze past you to get back in line, so while in front, I thought I’d help.”  I told her that I felt blessed.



As I pushed my cart to my car, I thought about her. Why did I just receive this favor and why did her kindness cheer me up so?  The answer came…she gave me my love language, “acts of service.”   When I feel loved, I want to love back.  I feel compelled to love.  Giving someone their love language is personal and powerful gift.



There are five love languages according to Gary Chapman that make us feel loved:  1)physical touch, 2) words of affirmation, 3)quality time, 4)giving gifts, 5)acts of service. 



What is your love language?  It’s good to know how to bless those close to us with their love language but what is surprising is to meet a stranger and be blessed.  Was she following the lead of the Holy Spirit?   The Lord knows everybody’s love language.     I felt His touch!  That’s what happened to me today.



This true story is linked to Tell Me a Story. 

Comments

  1. SharonApril 29, 2014 at 12:05 PM

    I actually think my love language is two of them - or I just can't decide between the two of them!! Quality time and words of affirmation. The two of them are intertwined, I think.

    The challenge sometimes is that it's natural to use our own love language to reach out to others, but sometimes that doesn't seem like love to them. The challenge is finding their language and using it.

    What a wonderful story you shared here today. It cheered me up, too. Good will...pass it on!

    GOD BLESS!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousApril 29, 2014 at 12:35 PM

    Love languages are invaluable. Mister is words of affirmation and physical touch, mine are acts of service and quality time. Knowing what the other's language is enables you to keep their tank filled! Invaluable info in our marriage.

    ReplyDelete
  3. NanaNor'sApril 29, 2014 at 4:00 PM

    What a wonderful blessing you received. I know she was blessed in return. For me, physical touch and quality time are my two big love languages.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs,
    Noreen

    ReplyDelete
  4. RCUBEsApril 29, 2014 at 8:14 PM

    Action speaks louder than words...I think it's her heart "walking the talk!" That's awesome when you meet someone like her and I'm glad you did! Have a great rest of the week sister and be strong always in the Lord's power.

    ReplyDelete
  5. a joyful noiseApril 29, 2014 at 11:10 PM

    What a blessing you received at the grocery store! Acts of kindness showing love. Thank you for sharing your beautiful post with us here at "Tell Me a Story."

    ReplyDelete
  6. DeniseApril 30, 2014 at 2:19 AM

    Precious, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. FloydApril 30, 2014 at 2:03 PM

    Love really is an act, not just a feeling. And your response of gratefulness didn't go unnoticed. I believe it was a direction of the Holy Spirit regardless of what she might be. It's all His! He is sovereign! Great story!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mevely317April 30, 2014 at 6:50 PM

    Oh Mary, I can only imagine what you thought when that gal began bagging your goodies!
    It's a sad commentary on what society's becoming that (when reading) I started thinking the worst was going to happen.

    'Can't think of anyone more deserving of some random love ... thanks for sharing this!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Joyful in His PresenceMay 1, 2014 at 3:39 AM

    I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face, dear Sister and Friend. I'm blessed not only by the lady's act of service ministering to your love language, but also by the tender way in which you shared. Love you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. CeilMay 1, 2014 at 6:18 AM

    Hi Mary! My son in law is a social worker, and he told me that my love language is 'giving gifts'. My husband likes to do things for me. I had never heard of this before he mentioned it. So this is a timely post for me!

    What a blessing to see the work of God and his generosity in his people...in a trip to the store. He is an amazing God!
    Blessings,
    Ceil

    ReplyDelete
  11. Crown of BeautyMay 1, 2014 at 2:20 PM

    I couldn't help but be misty eyed as I read this story. You also had a way of sharing it so beautifully in which the kindness of your own heart shone through. God was just so happy to bless you that day, but I am sure the lady behind you was even more blessed. He who gives receives, he who teaches learns! It is always an honor for me to connect with your life, dear Mary. MUch love, Lidia

    ReplyDelete
  12. Kathleen May 1, 2014 at 7:23 PM

    Leave it to the Lord to know exactly who to place on our path; and how best to bless us. I'm an "acts of service" sorta girl myself. Nothing like a lavish layer of love!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wise HeartedMay 2, 2014 at 6:32 AM

    Mary, this is a good post. I loved finding out what my love language was and others too. It give us some understanding people and understanding will act accordingly. Blessings my sister.

    ReplyDelete
  14. lioneagleMay 2, 2014 at 10:16 AM

    Hi -

    I enjoyed reading that piece. Thank you for sharing it.

    ReplyDelete
  15. JoyMay 2, 2014 at 11:33 PM

    What a nice gesture of love and an inspiration:)
    Thanks for sharing. Happy weekend:)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Spiritual Sundays ~ Flamboyant Love

I was shopping for a birthday card during my lunch hour last week when I overheard an elderly woman in the card aisle talking to her niece, a woman about my age. Here is what she said: “ I threw out all my cards. They never meant those words anyway .” Lots of laughter followed. How sad I thought to be unable to receive the love sent to her in the sentiments of a card. This incident got me thinking about the love of God and resolving to embrace it when it is offered to me. It doesn’t matter if I think I’m worthy of such extravagant love; He thinks so! In contrast, just a day later I received one of those gorgeous hand-crafted cards in the mail from my friend, Kay, who loves paper crafting. It was so pretty and love and joy just oozed out of it when I opened it. This is a sample of her designs at Creativity is Good. Kay wrote a beautiful note to me in the card reminding me of God’s tender love for me. She ended her thoughts with “The God of the universe loves us more than we can ever f...
25 comments
Read more

Holiday Movie Comes to Life

It’s uncanny when a new holiday movie comes out and resembles your personal life.   I came clean to my husband on that drive to the Harkins in Sedona confessing that the movie got bad ratings.   It isn’t the type of movie that he would choose to see in the first place.   Rotten Tomatoes gave it one star.   My prince charming replied:   “ Let’s see what we think of it and rate it ourselves.”   Yes!   High five to his palm! It started out as a fun afternoon date.   It would have been perfect if the lady directly in front of me didn’t have on super-strength perfume.   Smells can be troublesome when you’re prone to headaches.   I stuck my head in a big bucket of buttered popcorn; you know-- to alleviate her fragrance, because popcorn smell is less offensive.   What else is a girl like me to do? We named the genre “drama with comedy.”   Cast of characters acted like the typical family scene at Christmas tim...
27 comments
Read more

Abba's Lap

I noticed a behavior pattern in little Amy, twenty months old, that I want to imitate.  She moves fast engaging in one toddler activity after another spinning like a whirlwind from one room to another.  Yet, she pauses,  intermittently , long enough to get refreshed.   I want to be like this grandchild of mine because she knows where to go and how to get comforted. Amy moves at record speed, putting more miles on a pedometer in one hour than my accumulated weekly workouts at the gym.  She can build a skyscraper so tall, I wonder why those bright pink Lego’s don’t topple to the ground as she continues to stack just one more piece on top. I learned never to leave the room to get another cup of coffee.  Once, when I returned, I found her climbing past the couch with hands and feet reaching for the living room drapes. She has a consistent habit that I admire.  In the midst of her activities, as she moves robustly from one play...
51 comments
Read more