It had been a tight month, and Marcus knew it. Still, he hoped his mental math was wrong as he loaded bread, rice, eggs, and a small pack of chicken onto the belt. The number on the register blinked higher than the cash in his wallet.
“I’m going to have to put a few things back,” he muttered, heat rising in his face. Before he could choose, a hand gently touched his elbow. The man behind him stepped forward and slipped a bill toward the cashier.
“Cover the rest with that,” the stranger said. Marcus stammered, “You don’t have to—” but the man just smiled. “I’ve been where you are. Let me.”
The whole exchange took less than a minute, but it echoed for days. That morning, Marcus had prayed a weary prayer: “God, if You see me, I need to know.” He went about his day expecting silence. Instead, God showed up in sneakers and a simple act of generosity.
At home, as he unpacked groceries, Marcus set the bread on the counter and whispered, “You see every line, don’t You? Even the checkout line.”
He couldn’t repay the stranger, but he could pass it on. The next month, when his situation improved slightly, he watched the aisle for someone else hesitating at the total. The blessing had turned him into an agent of the same kindness.
Discover more from Just Doing Life
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.