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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"...no matter what I become in life, to always, always be kind."
Major props to this young woman...
Jessica Eaves from Guthrie (Oklahoma - USA) recently had her wallet stolen by a man while she was grocery shopping. Most people in that situation would immediately get the authorities involved, but she found a way to resolve her problem herself.
"I saw this gentleman down the aisle from me," Jessica tells us. "He walked behind me, and when I got a couple of aisles over, I realized my wallet was gone."
"I spotted him in a crowded aisle and approached him," she continues. "I'm a pretty out-there personality, but I was quiet and calm."
"I said to him, 'I think you have something of mine. I'm gonna give you a choice. You can either give me my wallet and I'll forgive you right now, and I'll even take you to the front and pay for your groceries."
The alternative? Jessica reporting him to the police.
"He reached into his hoodie pocket and gave me my wallet," she recalls, adding that the man was extremely grateful for her help and forgiveness.
"He started crying when we walked up to the front," she says. "He said he was sorry about 20 times by the time we went from the pickle aisle to the front. He told me he was desperate."
She spent $27 on his groceries, which included milk, bread, bologna, crackers, soup and cheese. "The last thing he said was, 'I'll never forget tonight. I'm broke, I have kids, I'm embarrassed and I'm sorry.'"
"Some people are critical because I didn't turn him in, but sometimes all you need is a second chance," says Jessica.
She adds, "My brother and I lost my dad to suicide when I was seven, and I remember him telling me years ago that no matter what I become in life, to always, always be kind."
~ Source: Yahoo News
el_bryanto
(11,804 posts)sheshe2
(83,856 posts)It brought a tear to my eye. Thanks for sharing bsis.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Blue Owl
(50,487 posts)Schema Thing
(10,283 posts)redqueen
(115,103 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)I hope I can be that kind when called upon.
FailureToCommunicate
(14,020 posts)Billy Budd
(310 posts)Great post ...something I need to focus on "always, always be kind."
calimary
(81,437 posts)I wonder how many thefts are for reasons like that. Probably a lot more than we know. NOT in any way condoning it. But the big takeaway here is about empathy and compassion, I think. Bless this woman Jessica Eaves! What a gentle and satisfying way to seek redress for a wrong. I believe she truly touched that "thief," and she may have changed his whole life. Certainly, his whole outlook. This kind of anecdote restores my faith in humanity.
Tikki
(14,559 posts)I don't think I was jealous as much as I was curious.
I always smiled at the faces of older people. I imagined they were like my grandparents might have been and
if they smiled back I was so excited, but if they had a frowny face I felt crushed.
It has become second nature for me to smile at any child who smiles at me. I often say "Hi" .
Tikki
That is very sweet.
G_j
(40,367 posts)malaise
(269,157 posts)Thanks for this
libodem
(19,288 posts)I think that's what made my eyes get all misty. Sniff.
DesertDiamond
(1,616 posts)Cha
(297,521 posts)Fairgo
(1,571 posts)Thank you for this! To perform an act of kindness is literally (and I do mean etymologically) to act upon the family you find in others.
Rex
(65,616 posts)What a wonderful heart Jessica has! I cannot imagine losing my father at age 7. His words of advice are more valuable than all the money in the world!
dhill926
(16,351 posts)bvar22
(39,909 posts)Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead,
Uncle John's Band
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)Thank you for posting
ashling
(25,771 posts)your story,
your kindness,
and your big heart . . .
you are a beautiful soul.
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)"Well, the first days are the hardest days,
don't you worry anymore
When life looks like Easy Street
there is danger at your door
Think this through with me
Let me know your mind
Wo-oah, what I want to know
is are you kind?
It's a Buck Dancer's Choice, my friend,
better take my advice
You know all the rules by now
and the fire from the ice
Will you come with me?
Won't you come with me?
Wo-oah, what I want to know,
will you come with me?
Goddamn, well I declare
Have you seen the like?
Their walls are built of cannonballs,
their motto is Don't Tread on Me"
mrsadm
(1,198 posts)lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)onlyadream
(2,167 posts)It's not about how much we have in the end, it's all about how we helped people.
About two weeks ago my hubby and I were entering Walmart, I know... Don't blast me (I normally shop at Target, but only Walmart had the ink I needed for my printer). Anyhow, a man standing by the doors asked us for some change. We told him we'd see him later on the way out. This gave us time to think about what to do. When we came out my hubby took him into McDonalds. Bought him dinner and gave him some money. When we left my husband was upset, upset that he didn't give more.
GeoWilliam750
(2,522 posts)There is far more than enough in this world for all of us.
demigoddess
(6,644 posts)in order to help people who need it and who sometimes fall through the cracks of charities. He has kids, they shouldn't go hungry because someone believes some crackpot theory of economics.