Jesus At the Walmart

At the local Walmart (some of us shop there) a young woman was standing at the self-checkout with a huge cart of groceries, sobbing her eyes out. The store was crowded. No one paid her any attention. I was passing on my way out of the store, and I stopped. She was distraught, her credit card, denied. I asked how much -- happened to have cash to pay her tab. She said, "You don't have to do that," and I said, " Oh Yes, I do." A Walmart employee pitched in the few pennies I lacked, and I left the store, marveling at the line of folks that saw distress, and looked away. Walmart, again, for a few purchases, When it was time to pay, my wallet was left on the seat of the car--a sometimes occurrence in the absent-minded years. I asked the checker to put my cart aside while I went to retrieve it. She replied, "He wants to pay for you." Turning around, "I faced a forty-something behind me, and I said in astonishment, "You don't have to do this." He, unsmiling, serious-faced: "I know I don't have to do this." "Hug!" I said, and put my arms around him."You will get this back in spades, you know. It's called Karma." "Pay it forward..." he replied. Random acts of kindness: Jesus at the Walmart."