So there are two very important things you should know about me.

1) I like to tell stories. The funniest/craziest/most random things happen to me and I feel joy when I can share it with someone! I’ll immediately pick up the phone and tell my husband, sisters, parents, friends… whoever answers the phone first LOL! Depending on who I’m talking to, I’ll tell the story in a manner that will be received well by them. I’m pretty sure it’s  because I don’t want to bore them- I want them to be entertained!

2) I am OBSESSED with GIFs. If we’ve ever chatted in a Facebook group, via Facebook messenger, text, email or any similar platform, you’ll notice I’ll take a second to Google an appropriate GIF or meme to express my emotion. When GIFs are used properly, they are absolutely HILARIOUS!! Especially when they are taken from TV shows or movies and your familiar with the context. Relating that to your own emotions can be incredibly and hilarious to the person on the receiving end.

I want to share my love of storytelling in GIFs with you!! If enough people get a kick out of this, I may even make it a series hahaha! So here goes nothin’….

Every Saturday morning, I take Koa Avery with me grocery shopping (usually to Wal-Mart). He’s up between 6:30-7am every morning so I take full advantage of how empty the store will be. Let me be totally honest with you. Even though I haven’t slept past 6am in over 10 months, I still am not completely used to it. I eventually perk up within an hour on weekdays because I work a full-time job but on weekends it is tough my friends! Long gone are the days of sleeping in and this is ALWAYS me as I drive to Wal-Mart at 7:30am on Saturday mornings…

while Koa is like:

BUT as soon as I park and I put my bright-eyed boy in the cart.. we walk in like this:

BOOM. I’m up. Let’s do this.

He’s great while I’m shopping, thank goodness! He’s observing from his cart, playing with toys and smiling at every stranger who talks to him.

(Note: If you’re new here- this is not a GIF. This is our sweet boy Koa Avery)

I rack up on a TON of groceries, hit the baby section to get Koa some new outfits and also buy batteries for my flashes for an upcoming wedding. I’ve checked everything off my list. I’m feeling good.

I find an open line. We all know Wal-Mart has 50 registers but only opens three to six at the most. I’m hopeful! It’s now 9am and I know I’ll be out in 5 minutes. I find a line with only ONE person in it. The customer, an older gentleman, gives me a half-smile as I put my groceries on the belt.  The cashier, a teenaged boy (I can only assume), has already scanned the older gentleman’s groceries and bagged them. Koa is still happy even though we are approaching his nap time. Everything is working out perfectly.

The older gentleman swipes his credit card. The cashier tells him it has been denied (with a serious attitude). By this time there were 4 customers behind me. Poor guy was embarrassed.

He swiped again. Denied. Swiped another credit card. Denied. The customers behind me went to find another open register and the young cashier was physically annoyed.

Me, trying not to make the situation worse…

The cashier told him he had to move the line along. “Don’t know what to tell you buddy. Your cards aren’t working.” The man was convinced it was the machine. He tried one last card. A delay to another eventual decline gave us a glimpse of hope… but only for a second.

I felt bad for him. I don’t know his situation. All I know is that he had groceries for his family (again, assuming) and the cashier was being very condescending. Oh and by this point 15 minutes had passed and my groceries were still perfectly organized on the belt.

I blurted out…

“I’ll pay for his groceries. Here, swipe my card.”

The gentleman…

The cashier..

Bystanders..

“But his groceries are $80!” shouts the cashier. “That’s okay! Just swipe my card and let him be on his way,” I say kindly. I swiped my card. Success! The man packed up his groceries and and I honestly don’t think he said thank you as he quickly walked off. Now a few years ago, this would have been my reaction.

But you know what? It’s called paying it forward for a reason. The young cashier was in awe of the fact that I paid for this man’s groceries (on top of mine) and the fact that he did not seem thankful. The cashier asked, “Why did you do that!? He didn’t even appreciate it!” I told him we shouldn’t do things like this for self-satisfaction or praise. We should do it to make others feel good, to make others want to do good for others. I’m sure that man appreciated it, he just may not be great with expressing himself. He may have been too embarrassed to look back. But I’m sure he’ll tell someone about the nice thing a young lady did for him. The cashier and bystanders may even bring it up in casual conversation with friends. Imagine the chain reaction if we all voluntarily helped one another? Imagine if my son was old enough to understand what he witnessed (and I can’t wait to instill this in him). I’ve had a strangers pay for my toll, gas and even a restaurant tab randomly and out of the goodness of their hearts. It motivates me to do the same for others!! I challenge you, friends. Don’t always wait for a situation like this to present itself to be helpful and kind. This world is crazy and can take all of the love, encouragement and community it can get.

 

I hope I could give you a laugh today and also a good message! Love to you all!

Angie