Remember the Food Lion Forget the Alamo

I've often seen the bumper sticker on vehicles proclaiming "Commit Random Acts of Kindness" but today I actual experienced what it feels like to be on both sides.

A late trip on a Sunday afternoon found me in the parking lot of Food Lion with a cart laden full of groceries. I noticed that the cart corral was overflowing and someone had just added one more to an overgrowing mass of carts. They were already sticking out far enough to take up part of the parking lot. Although I had groceries in my car and I was anxious to get home I decided someone had to do something. I looked around and didn't see any of the bag boys so I decided that I was just as capable of pushing the carts in a bit better so folks could maneuver the parking lot better.

I guess I'm not destined to be a bag girl or a cart pusher as I struggled with trying to get the long lines of carts into some sort of order. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a mother with a small child get out of her car next to the cart corral. Very much to my surprise she asked if I needed some help. I graciously accepted as I was struggling to get things under control. Then an older gentleman saw what we were doing and grabbed a stray cart, added it to his and came over to lend a hand.

What would have taken me quite a bit of time to struggle through took no time at all with my new accomplices. I surveyed our work and found we had managed to make 3 very neat rows of carts where they had once been a jumbled mess. I thanked them both for their efforts and hoped that they walked away feeling as good as I did.

I have in the past taken something upon me to do that was not "mine" but this time it was multiplied 3 fold. I was more pleased by the 2 total strangers (one with a small child in tow and the other with his wife waiting patiently in the car) just stopping what they were doing and pitching in than I was with my initial efforts.

This experience shall stick with me and hopefully continue a ripple effect for days, weeks, months to come. I will endeavor to use this as a touch stone in my life. Next time I get impatient in traffic - "Remember Food Lion" will be my mantra and I will remember how good it felt to give of one's self. Next time I see someone coming towards the door - I shall mumble "Remember Food Lion" and hold the door for them. No longer will cry be "Remember the Alamo but instead Remember the Food Lion!"