General Discussion

sheshe2

(83,776 posts) Fri Apr 4, 2014, 06:36 PM Apr 2014

330

To the Woman Behind Me in Line at the Grocery Store [View all]

Dear woman behind me in line at the grocery store,

You don't know me. You have no clue what my life has been like since October 1, 2013. You have no clue that my family has gone through the wringer. You have no clue that we have faced unbelievable hardship. You have no clue we have been humiliated, humbled, destitute.

You have no clue I have cried more days than not; that I fight against bitterness taking control of my heart. You have no clue that my husband's pride was shattered. You have no clue my kids have had the worries of an adult on their shoulders. You have no clue their innocence was snatched from them for no good reason. You know none of this.

What you do know is I tried to buy my kids some food and that the EBT machine was down so I couldn't buy that food. I didn't have any cash or my debit card with me. I only had my SNAP card. All you heard was me saying "No, don't hold it for me. My kids are hungry now and I have no other way of paying for this." You didn't judge me. You didn't snarl "Maybe you should have less kids." You didn't say "Well, get a job and learn to support yourself." You didn't look away in embarrassment or shame for me. You didn't make any assumptions at all.

What you did was you paid that $17.38 grocery bill for us. You gave my kids bananas, yogurt, apple juice, cheese sticks, and a peach ice tea for me; a rare treat and splurge. You let me hug you and promise through my tears that I WILL pay this forward. I WILL pay someone's grocery bill for them. That $17.38 may not have been a lot for you, but it was priceless to us. In the car my kids couldn't stop gushing about you; our "angel in disguise." They prayed for you. They prayed you would be blessed. You restored some of our lost faith. One simple and small action changed our lives. You probably have forgotten about us by now, but we haven't forgotten about you. You will forever be a part of us even though we don't even know your name.

More:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrea-gardner/to-the-woman-behind-me-in_b_5082769.html

82 replies

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Highlight:

To the Woman Behind Me in Line at the Grocery Store [View all] sheshe2 Apr 2014 OP

Random Acts of Kindness, she.. thank you. Cha Apr 2014 #1

Yes it is Cha. sheshe2 Apr 2014 #3

Great quote. beveeheart Apr 2014 #38

Says a lot, does it not beveeheart. nt sheshe2 Apr 2014 #40

A lot, yes. beveeheart Apr 2014 #41

I love that so much yeoman6987 Apr 2014 #81

Dear Andrea, Jackpine Radical Apr 2014 #2

The EBT machine was down? KamaAina Apr 2014 #4

Almost always a bank issue. Codeine Apr 2014 #9

That's downright criminal. KamaAina Apr 2014 #11

Outages are rare for both systems, Codeine Apr 2014 #13

The bank probably thinks "why should we care if poor people can get food for their kids... Ken Burch Apr 2014 #28

Its usually an electronic problem. I work on several types of these, including private ATMs 7962 Apr 2014 #60

Oh crap, I've got something in my eye. Curmudgeoness Apr 2014 #5

Remember this one, Curmudgeoness ~ sheshe2 Apr 2014 #21

Indeed I do. Curmudgeoness Apr 2014 #24

and, on cue, a rwnj shows up steve2470 Apr 2014 #6

Surprise, surprise, Steve. sheshe2 Apr 2014 #7

yes it does steve2470 Apr 2014 #8

Tony C. CFLDem Apr 2014 #15

Bet I know what the "C" stands for.... and you're right about the Ramen!! 7962 Apr 2014 #61

This message was self-deleted by its author Ken Burch Apr 2014 #29

"The assholes you have with you always"... Ken Burch Apr 2014 #30

LoFingl! Dark n Stormy Knight Apr 2014 #74

since I cannot post on huffpo for some reason, my reply to tony c: niyad Apr 2014 #37

do you have your popup blockers on within your browser ? nt steve2470 Apr 2014 #42

Now that was damn well said niyad. sheshe2 Apr 2014 #43

agreed ! nt steve2470 Apr 2014 #46

Something tells me. Notafraidtoo Apr 2014 #51

I gave up on religion a long time ago partially because of dildoes like Tony C. TxVietVet Apr 2014 #54

Dildos have a use and generally bring happiness. I would not characterize the likes of Tony C. that msanthrope Apr 2014 #55

Did that poster really reference the New Testament? yardwork Apr 2014 #58

I love it. lpbk2713 Apr 2014 #10

Even in sorrow, there can be beauty. raven mad Apr 2014 #12

How could the EBT be down and not the debit? former9thward Apr 2014 #14

EBT transactions are handled by a specific bank. Codeine Apr 2014 #16

I bet she got a transaction fee DiverDave Apr 2014 #18

No, it doesnt work that way. No fee if no money changes hands. nt 7962 Apr 2014 #62

Breakdown could be anywhere. mwooldri Apr 2014 #63

During the rare EBT outages at our grocery store Codeine Apr 2014 #66

It is so great to hear about the kindness of strangers. TxDemChem Apr 2014 #17

Made my day. K&R JohnnyRingo Apr 2014 #19

:) sheshe2 Apr 2014 #20

Awesome. Aldo Leopold Apr 2014 #22

there are some nice people JI7 Apr 2014 #23

That's wonderful IronLionZion Apr 2014 #25

humans are so much better than than this country. nt Deep13 Apr 2014 #26

Yes, thank you for sharing! Lifelong Protester Apr 2014 #27

This brought me to tears. Beacool Apr 2014 #31

I agree with you 100%, Beacool. sheshe2 Apr 2014 #33

I say that almost every day. Beacool Apr 2014 #35

"participation in community with dignity." sheshe2 Apr 2014 #36

"There but for the grace of God go I." I learned than long ago to keep myself humble. Thanks. n/t freshwest Apr 2014 #45

Me too. Beacool Apr 2014 #48

You are a good person freshwest. sheshe2 Apr 2014 #73

I don't think I'm remarkable though. Just logical, which calls one to percieve equality in all. freshwest Apr 2014 #82

Wonderful Jake2413 Apr 2014 #32

We do Jake, indeed we do. sheshe2 Apr 2014 #34

Welcome to DU, Jake 2413! calimary Apr 2014 #44

Thanks Jake2413 Apr 2014 #56

It was she that received the gift WhiteTara Apr 2014 #39

This made me cry. polly7 Apr 2014 #47

This helps me to remember to engage of acts of grace. Shrike47 Apr 2014 #49

Lovely malaise Apr 2014 #50

Heartwarming doxydad Apr 2014 #52

This post has hundreds of recommendations! And rightly so. Enthusiast Apr 2014 #53

Caught Me By Surprise! ProfessorGAC Apr 2014 #57

+1 treestar Apr 2014 #59

It caught me by surprise too, treestar. sheshe2 Apr 2014 #71

Wonderful story with a punchline far different from what we were led to expect. maddiemom Apr 2014 #64

Oh, yes. I meant to say that I qualify very honestly, and make use of "food stamps." My parents maddiemom Apr 2014 #65

Ive stopped tolerating such ignorance. iamthebandfanman Apr 2014 #67

Thank you for speaking up Digit Apr 2014 #69

You are a good person, iamthebandfanman. sheshe2 Apr 2014 #72

... SunSeeker Apr 2014 #68

In a cruel world, this was a pleasant surprise davidpdx Apr 2014 #70

Heart-warming bananasplitbaby Apr 2014 #75

Thanks, and Welcome to DU! sheshe2 Apr 2014 #76

Several years ago I was buying groceries Louisiana1976 Apr 2014 #77

That simple act of kindness, Louisiana1976... sheshe2 Apr 2014 #78

Wasn't expecting that outcome! SevenSixtyTwo Apr 2014 #79

Thank you for your response, SevenSixtyTwo. sheshe2 Apr 2014 #80