What I Saw at a Local Arizona Grocery Store Will Warm Your Heart

Sometimes, when you least expect it, you get to witness something that seems small, and yet it makes a profound difference to someone's day.

I was standing in line at a grocery store the other day, waiting to pay for my groceries. It was a busy Wednesday, the first of the month which is the store's senior discount day. I only needed a few things, but the store was bustling with activity, and I began to get a little worried this trip would take longer than I'd bargained for.

The Waiting Game

There were a few people in front of me; one was a stressed-out mom with two tired toddlers who were beginning to unravel. I also noticed she was very pregnant. To say this mom was uncomfortable would be an understatement.

Just behind her was an older woman with white hair. While they waited in line, they struck up a conversation.

Common Ground

The older woman reminisced on what it was like to raise her son and daughter in the 1960s and 70s, while she smiled and waved at the little ones.

The young mom mentioned she'd just moved here with her husband, a recent transplant from Kentucky. They found common ground in that, too. The older lady had moved from a small town in Kentucky when she first married, too.

The conversation when on like that. The lady mentioned how much she missed her grandchildren who lived in the Midwest. The young mom said she was sad her mom lived so far away, and she was a little lonely since she hadn't made many friends yet.

Conversation Takes a Turn

The conversation went on for a while, and I enjoyed listening to the gentle banter. As the young mom stepped forward to pay for her groceries, several things happened all at once.

The bagger dropped an entire glass bottle of apple juice, and it shattered on the floor. The cashier called for backup, but everyone was busy with the midday rush.

Apple juice began to seep across the shattered glass and sticky floor. The younger of the children, a boy no older than two years old was fascinated with the mess and began to move toward the spill, hands outstretched.

The older sister who I figured to be around four began to whine that she was tired and hungry. The young mom was becoming increasingly overwhelmed and didn't know what to deal with first. The cashier was done ringing up the order. She tried to help the bagger, collect the payment, and keep the line moving all at the same time.

The overstressed mom was on the verge of tears.

A Mom to the Rescue

That's when I saw it. The older lady stepped forward and gently touched the young mom on her elbow. She gave her a sweet, soft look and whispered, "It'll be okay, Honey. We've got this."

I saw Little Momma visibly relax then, as this experienced Grandma stepped around the mess, gently guiding the little ones just beyond the melee. She distracted them both with some shiny coins she'd fished out of her purse, bending down to their level, and telling them a story. They were delighted.

The mess was cleared, the groceries were paid for, and the line began moving again. As my turn came to pay for my order, I watched as these two new-found friends exchanged numbers just beyond the cashier's stand.

I heard the older lady say, "If you ever need a grandma to help out, Honey, just give me a call." The kindness of humans always warms my heart. This was definitely worth the wait.