Dear Reader:

This true story of a ‘random act of kindness’ re-enforces my belief that every thing in life does happen for a reason…and that reason connects us to others and the universe simultaneously.

Resource: Circles of Kindness from Around the World: (“A Circle of Kindness Started by a 10 year-Old Girl- onelucky lady…posted July 22, 2010)

“I was shopping at my local supermarket, as I normally have for years.  On this particular day, I had done about 2 weeks worth of shopping and was headed toward the register to pay for my groceries.  After the cashier had scanned my items and I had bagged them up, she stated that the total was $150.  

I reached in my back right pocket to grab the money to pay and realized there was no money in it.  I started to get nervous.  I knew my pocket book was in the car and I was sure I had put the money in my back right pocket.

I look at cashier with wet eyes and a confused look not knowing what to do.  There were people behind me in line. She told me to speak with the courtesy counter.  I laughed and said, “Really? It’s cash, no one would hand that in!”  

I said I would be right back and ran to my truck to get out more money to pay my bill, money that was to be used to pay another bill.  I ran back inside and handed money to the cashier.  She again prompted me to ask the courtesy desk, “You never know…” she said.  I shook my head in despair but said “okay”.  

I decided that there was no harm in checking so I walked up to a woman behind the courtesy counter and said “I have to ask, did anyone turn in cash by any chance?”

She asked “How much?”.  My face then lit up.  “$200 in the form of one hundred dollar bills.” I replied.  She said, “Actually, yes, someone did!” I was so surprised! “Who? I want to thank them.”  She pointed to a young girl about 10 years old and said, “She did.”

I walked over to the mom and hugged her.  The mother replied , “It wasn’t me, it was my daughter.”  

I said “I know, I wanted to thank you both, although she found it … it’s because of you that I got this back.”  (I was so happy, I was almost in tears.) 

The next day at work, a person in another department offered me tickets to the circus.  He handed me 5 tickets. Almost instantly that young girl’s face popped into my head.  After work I went back to the supermarket and stopped at the courtesy counter and asked if she had any idea who that woman and little girl were? 

She smiled and said, “Yes, actually I do.  She is a friend of mine and a regular customer.”  Oh good, I was so happy.   I asked her to do me a favor and pass along the 5 tickets to her and say thank you from me.

She told me that the family of the little girl who found my money didn’t have very much so they would really appreciate this generous gesture.  She also said that they have 3 children, so five was the prefect number of tickets! 

As I later walked off…I looked up, smiled at God and thought “Of course five was the perfect number!”

So until tomorrow…The circle of giving and receiving is a continuous one in life…but in order to be a part of the circle…we must first give.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Tomorrow I will be home…with lots of new stories and pictures of an early St. Patrick’s Day birthday party for Lachlan…our cutest little leprechaun around!