Despite the bleakness of the world around us, we know that kindness is just around the corner, waiting to bless someone who needs it most. A simple act of kindness – a smile or greeting, even – can impact someone’s life.
Others have had their fair share of blessings that they decide to pay it forward. Angels, good Samaritans – whatever we call them. We’d be thankful to bump into one of them along the way, especially when we’re in dire need.
This family in Boston had met an “angel” in the grocery, and they’re hell-bent on searching for the person to thank him personally.
Marilyn’s grocery run
Many of us can go to the grocery ourselves, even the elderly. However, for Marilyn Oettinger, it was her first time since her husband passed.
She often went out with him, and after a few months, since he passed, she had the courage to go to the grocery with other seniors at a nearby Star Market in Auburndale. Everything went well throughout her shopping until she reached the counter.
Card declined
Marilyn placed her groceries and the counter and was ready to pay her $109 bill. She handed her credit card, only to be told by the cashier that her card had been declined.
It turned out it was canceled just two days ago since it was still under her late husband’s account. What bad timing for this to happen!
“There she was – confused, flabbergasted, embarrassed. And this guy rescued her,” her daughter, Margie, told CBS Boston.
The “angel” behind her
“And this amazing person behind her said, ‘Don’t worry. I’ll take care of your groceries,'” Margie added.
They said her mother accepted the man’s offer to pay for her groceries, thinking she could get his name and pay him back. But the man only said: “No. Just say a prayer for me.” It was only a few seconds that Marilyn looked away then the man vanished.
In search of their angel
The Oettinger family took it to social media to look for their kind angel. They had already prayed for him more than a couple of times, but they still wanted to meet and thank him personally.
Margie added, “Even if he doesn’t want to come forward, we’re hoping he’ll know that we’re incredibly grateful.”
They also promised to pay this act of kindness forward to other shoppers whenever they drop by the supermarket in the future. That way, they still get to pay back their kind angel by helping others.
Inspiring other shoppers
CBS Boston interviewed some shoppers after they told them what happened that day. Many of them were amazed by such kindness and thought it was cool that someone out there would be willing to help a total stranger.
Another man said that, at times, there are people who don’t want to take the credit for the kindness they’ve shown. But life would always find its way to give credit to that person, albeit unknown, be it through a social media post or television coverage.
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