It has been about 2 years now, but the feeling is still very fresh. One day while standing in line at a cash register, I noticed the very few items that a young mother had. Normally I think nothing of it, but something urged me to watch what was about to unfold.
As the cashier rang up her things, she was counting what cash she had in her hand, and looked down at her child. The look was unbearable, especially as I too was a mother, so I understood full well how it pains to not be able to buy something for your child.
I asked the cashier to run the crayons up with my order and hand them to her. The young mother did not have to say what I saw in her eyes. I told her it was ok, and I was happy to pay for the things she so wanted for that little one.
The cashier silently thanked me as she tried to not shed tears at what just happened. To this day, whenever I think about it, that moment still makes me almost tear up. I would do it all over again without one moment's hesitation.
Taken with my iphone