Receiving Kindness: Lesson 1
I only do my grocery shopping once a week, and with a household of four adults right now (two of our grown children are with us), that grocery cart is piled high, like I-almost-can’t-see-over-the-top high. As I approach the checkout line with my mammoth load, I look behind me to see someone who is holding a bunch of carrots and a green juice. Two things. I’m not sure whether it’s because I feel guilty for holding up the line or maybe I just want to appear nice, but I usually say, “You can go ahead of me. You only have a couple of things.” After they take a look at my cart, they usually glide forward gratefully. Tonight, though, the tables were turned on me, and I almost didn’t know what to do.
I had already been to the grocery store earlier and procured the weekly needs of the household. At least, I thought I had. Thanks to a new diet for one of our family members, I needed to buy not just one jar of organic dill pickles but three, and not just one package of chicken chili lime burgers, but three. Don’t ask what diet that is. I am only the procurer of food. I trudged back to the local Trader Joe’s for two more jars of pickles and two packages of frozen chicken burgers. The store was busy, so I quickly grabbed the items and hustled over to the checkout.
“You can go ahead of me,” I heard someone say. I looked up to see a man ahead of me. His cart was pretty full (though not as full as my normal weekly load), and he smiled at me. “Go ahead,” he said, motioning me forward. “You only have a few things.”
My first reaction was to say, “Oh, no, that’s OK. I can wait.” But I stopped myself. Why would I not let this nice man bless me? Why would I deprive him of the chance to be kind to another human being? Maybe more importantly, why would I deprive myself of being blessed by another’s kindness?
So I smiled widely and said, “Thank you!” with my whole heart, watching that young man experience what I have often felt by showing the same kindness. This time, though, I received the gift of a kind gesture. It felt different but also very good. I think I’m going to need more practice receiving kindness to get really good at it.