An angel visits Walgreens
June 19th, 2008Okay, maybe to some of you this will sound silly, but I know to others of you will understand this. So here goes.
Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” I’ve always loved this verse, and done my darndest to follow it. If ever I have the opportunity, (at least, most days) I show what hospitality I can given the situation.
Tonight was a rather unique sort of hospitality situation. I was halfway through changing the garbage bags in the Winfield Walgreens when I happened to see an older woman at the back wall comparing two boxes of Advil. It’s been drilled into my head to ask every customer if they need help, And I honestly enjoy helping people find things they need. It’s a nice feeling to help make someone’s day.
So, I asked the woman, who’s name was Mrs. Keith, if she needed any help.
“I’ve never bought Advil before,” she said, “but I’m having trouble with pain in my legs and so I’m going to try it. I just can’t tell which of these to get.”
She held a box of caplets and a box of tablets. There really isn’t much difference, but I’ve been told that the caplets, because of their thinner, oblong shape, are easier to swallow. I’ve never noticed any difference, but then, I can down six pills at a time without a problem. It’s just something I’m used to. So I told her what I’d been told, and she made her decision.
“Are you working in cosmetics tonight?” she asked, and I said yes. “Would you ring me up when I’m finished?” I told her I was cleaning bathrooms, but I would love to ring her up. I told her I should be done in about fifteen minutes, and if she was ready before then, to let the front-end cashier know and have her call me to my register. She asked my name, I told her, and we parted ways.
We met up a little later in the bathroom, of all places, where I was mopping. She idly mentioned her bad knees, and I apologized for the handicapped stall being out of order. (It’s been out of order for years. You’d think they’d fix it by now.) I told her again to let me know when she was ready to be rung up. And again, we parted ways.
So, a little while later, I had just finished cleaning and taking out the garbage, and was returning to my aisles to do some facing before I had to pull the cash drawers. She came around the end of the aisle and said she was ready to be rung up. As I began to scan her items, she made a comment about how she wasn’t sure how she was going to be able to lift her twenty-four pack of water into her car. So, after I finished ringing her up and she’d paid, I helped her load up her cart and walked her out to her car carrying her water. I loaded it up for her, and wished her a good night.
“God bless you, Carly. You’re such a wonderful girl. I’ll say a special prayer for you,” is what she said to me. It made me feel so blessed and like I was (and still am) on top of the world. I made her night, and in that, God was glorified.
So, I went back into the store and finished out my night, convinced that I had had a conversation with an angel.
But I’m sure she’s sweet in person, too) and accommodating. She’s ready and willing to share her talent with others through her comic or her commissioned artwork, which is fabulous. Wish I could say more, but words fail me now. XD Basically… Go read, go donate, go vote, go enjoy. I always do.