Expected the unexpected seems to be the motto of this Christmas. My husband’s Christmas gift had been planned. I knew exactly what I wanted to buy and where to find it in Nowra. But on Friday when I reached the shop where I’d seen it earlier in the week, they didn’t have what I wanted. That required a whole re-think and casting about for ideas, which I didn’t have time for on Friday as my husband and I had another appointment to meet up with friends in Huskisson. So yesterday, armed with a new set of ideas for gifts, I set out again for Nowra, knowing I needed to get in and out before the shops became too chaotic.
I did a quick check of the other possible shops that might stock the item only to find none of them had it. Then I felt prompted to go back to the shop I’d been in the day before, on the off chance they’d restocked. They had one. I added it to my trolley before picking up a couple of extra things for him that had been on the revised plan, thinking I could put some away for his birthday and headed for the checkout, where I handed over my credit card.
Relieved I had managed to get the shopping done so easily, I gathered up my parcels and left to put the items in the car before heading back to another shop for a last minute gift for our son, which had been ordered.
I was hurrying along, when I head running footsteps but took no notice, till someone touched me on the arm.
I turned to see a stranger.
‘You left your credit card behind on the counter,’ the woman said, handing it to me.
This woman had been behind me in the queue and noticed my card when she got to the check out operator. Instead of ignoring it, she took the time and trouble to run after me and catch up with me. And boy was I ever grateful! It would have been so easy for her to turn a blind eye and just keep going with what she was doing. Or, if she was the wrong type of person, try and appropriate the card. She did neither for which I am so thankful.
She could have done nothing and I would never have known till it was too late and I went looking to use the card again. Her kindness was unexpected but such a blessing. That act of kindness epitomizes what the Christmas spirit should be about – looking out for and helping each other and putting others first, which is what the Lord Jesus always did. But too often this is not what happens. People become stressed, snappy and impatient. It is every man, woman and child for themselves.
We can choose to be a blessing to others this Christmas or become so wrapped up in our own concerns and what we have to do, that we never spare a thought for others. Only one of these two options would please our Lord.
I know that lovely woman returning my credit card certainly made my Christmas a lot better than it could have been.
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