With bombings, explosions, flooding, ricin laced letters and Lord knows what else, this week has been a rough one on our country. And that’s putting it mildly.
We still have to carry on with our day to day lives. For many, that means things as simple and mundane (and sometimes dreaded) as mowing the lawn or grocery shopping. Instead of just trudging through the weekend to-do list, why not try and brighten someone’s day while we’re at it?
Here’s a list of 10 easy ways to be a blessing to others at the grocery store:
- Instead of looking for the parking spot closest to the front of the lot, park a little further back and leave the spot up close for someone that may need it a little more than you. Or, on the same token, if you come upon a prime spot at the same time as someone else, let them have it.
- On your walk into the store, if you notice that someone has littered, pick it up and put it in the trash. After all, it is Earth Day this weekend.
- If your grocery store has a coffee shop in it, leave $5 with the cashier to buy the coffee for the next person in line.
- Pick up some muffins, or cookies, or brownies (or a bag or two of Cosmos Creations) and drop them off at your neighborhood fire station on your way home.
- Leave a sticky note on the bathroom mirror with “You are Beautiful” written on it.
- If someone in the dairy or freezer aisle is behind you and needs to get into the same cold case as you, hold the door for them while they grab their milk. Then smile and tell them to have a great day.
- Pay for the groceries for the person behind you in line.
- Let the person in line behind you go in front of you.
- If your grocery store has a bulletin board on the way out the door, print off a “Free Compliments” flyer (like this one found via Pinterest) and post it on the board among the for sale items.
- When you’ve loaded your groceries in your car and you’re taking your cart back to the cart corral, if you see someone near your finishing up loading their groceries, offer to take their cart for them.
BONUS IDEA: Possibly the easiest, and arguably the most impactful, thing you can do is to pray. Pray for the stranger at the grocery store. Pray for loved ones. Pray for all those impacted by this week’s tragic events. Pray for healing. Pray for understanding. Just pray.
We don’t know everyone’s story or how this week’s events have impacted those around us. Let’s ban together to help restore others’ faith in humanity. Let’s encourage one another. Let’s show compassion. Let’s be a blessing.
Will you join us?
