One of the hardest parts about get older is that we have to give up our independence.
When we are young, we think of ourselves as autonomous and self-directed beings, with our lives entirely under our own control. Unfortunately, all of us inevitably get older and we gradually lose some of our abilities to do the things we used to do. Just like when we were born, we start to rely on the kindness of others to get things done.
Situations can be especially challenging when trying to go out to eat.
One such story happened at a McDonalds in Chicago, Illinois.
A woman named Destiny Carreno was minding her own business and eating a meal when she noticed something remarkable. While she was in line, an elderly man who was handicapped approached the register in front of her and seemed to be straining to ask something. As it turns out, the man had quadriplegia and needed some assistance with his food.
After some effort, the man asked the cashier for help.
What happened next surprised Carreno enough to share the story on Facebook.
As her own uncle had quadriplegia as well, the story hit especially close to home:
“To be honest, I thought the cashier wasn’t going to help, especially during rush hour in downtown Chicago, but to my shock, he shut down his register and disappeared from view….
Not to get away from helping him, but to wash his hands and put gloves on! I had to stick around and see how this would play out.”
As it turned out, the cashier was only going to get gloves and utensils so he could help the gentleman.
Despite the restaurant being busy during rush hour, the cashier shut his register own and helped the older man eat his meal just as he’d asked. Carreno was moved by the experience:
“At that point, the tears started to gather in my eyes. My heart was so appreciative for what he did. I couldn’t contain my emotions in the crowded restaurant.
This employee, who put everything on hold for this man, went above and beyond his responsibilities to help this handicapped customer out. That was the kindest and most humble thing I had ever seen.”
Carreno’s story celebrating this cashier’s kindness has since gone viral, with over 400,000 shares on Facebook.
Getting older is inevitable and can be a great fear for many people. Fortunately, stories like these show us that our lives can still be transformed by kindness and compassion as we get older. Although it may seem like a burden, finding opportunities to help others in need should never be an inconvenience. Instead, we should treat those moments as opportunities to do good in the world.
A special thanks to Kenny, the cashier who helped out that day!
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