She was returning strawberries

I had such a sweet experience today I just had to share.  And I hope it makes sense- it’s 1:00 am!Brian and I have been a little on edge the last few weeks.  We’ve been really busy and super stressed out with the move.  Boston doesn’t quite understand what’s going on so we’ve been dealing with him acting out.  And it’s been bad.  Poor little boy.  We were at Walmart buying like a million dollars worth of organizing baskets and hooks and random crap so that we could finally finish unpacking.

At the end of our shopping spree I ran into customer service to return a few things while Brian loaded up the car.  I couldn’t help but noticed the lady next to me.  She had a grocery cart full of food and four young children.  She was telling the cashier that she could only spend $130 and so she needed to return somethings because her receipt totaled $160.  She was a little frantic and I could tell very embarrassed.  She returned some strawberries, telling the cashier they were just too much.  She was rummaging through her bags looking for something that she could possibly let go.  I could see toilet paper, fruits and vegetables, and bread.  There wasn’t anything in that cart that a family of five wouldn’t need- it was all food.  As I watched her hand things over to the cashier until her receipt totaled $130 my heart nearly burst.

Here was a woman who was retuning strawberries because they were too expensive.

Entitlement.

I ran back to the car and burst into tears.

I couldn’t stand that I had just spend over $200 on random odds and ends while a mother of four was putting her strawberries back because they were too expensive.

I guess what made this experience so sweet is that it finally put my life back into perspective.  It’s definitely okay to buy and have nice things.  It just all depends on where your heart is.  While things have been a little rocky, I have what I need.  I have my wonderful husband who adores me.  I have Boston who is smart and healthy and little Savy girl who is such a diva I can hardly stand it!  Things do not make a home.  Love makes a home.  Laughter makes a home.  Time together makes a home.  I’ve been so consumed with moving and what needs to be organized that I’ve completely lost sight of what’s important.

I challenge you to remember what’s important in this life.  Let go of all the things you maybe can’t afford, stop comparing and just start being happy.  Marjorie Hinckley said it best-

UPDATE: so many people are wondering why I didn’t pay the difference.  Why instead I ran to my car and burst into tears… because how do tears help?!  Before running to my car, I had a nice conversation with this woman.  I got the distinct impression not to pay her balance.  I don’t know why.  Maybe it would have embarrassed her, I don’t know.  I did tell her how amazing I thought she was sticking to a budget.  So I’m sorry to those who feel I should have paid the extra $30.00.  I don’t know why I got the feeling not to!  xoxo
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Abby Smith

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24 thoughts on “She was returning strawberries

  1. Honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to leave without quietly paying the thirty dollar difference in the lady’s bill. Money was always tight when I was raising my littles, but there were times when I would run in to that same situation, and I would hand over whatever I had. I’m not trying to make you feel bad at all Abby, because I know that you are an incredibly kind hearted person. It might just be something to think of if it ever happens again. Good will doesn’t always need to happen in a Church or food shelf, or even a scheduled donation. Sometimes those spur of the moment “givings” can warm your heart even more.

    1. I talked to her before I left. I had a feeling though that if I had offered to pay the difference I would have offended her. I told her I needed to learn all her tricks about budgeting and I told her how much I admired her for sticking to it. Hopefully our conversation made her feel less embarrassed.

  2. ‘Things do not make a home. Love makes a home. Laughter makes a home. Time together makes a home.’ – I just love this. Something I need to repeat to myself daily.

    Thank you for sharing this story. My thoughts and prayers will be with this mother and her family.

    I’ll also be thinking of you and your family as you deal with all the stress that comes with moving a young family!

  3. Once again, you nailed it on the head! I NEEDED to hear that today. I have been staying up too late and it has been affecting my family. I need to “mature” and let this bad habit go! Thanks for giving me a quote to live by. You’re awesome!

  4. Wow…your post made me tear up too. I think I would have tried to pay for that ladies strawberries. You are right though…makes one realize what is truly important in life.

  5. Moments like that can make you see what is really important. I love the quote! Thank you for sharing . . . I love your line: “Let go of all the things you maybe can’t afford, stop comparing and just start being happy.” 🙂

  6. That is soooo true. Some times we take life for granted. We just need to sit back and take it in or it will pass us by and our kids will be grown and we will have missed it. It is the small things that really matter … our family.

  7. Abby, this post hits very close to home for me as well. My husband and I are currently in the process of buying our first home, but I am currently the only one working a full time job as my husband is from Japan and couldn’t work until recently. He is in the process of starting our handmade business (he’s a professional sewer–how cool!), but it doesn’t make paying the bills any easier. Going from two incomes to one has definitely humbled us, and made the word “budget” go from abstract to incredibly real. I have had similar experiences lately where I see someone who truly is in need, and I realize I have to stop feeling sorry for myself. Great post, very very true.

    Kate

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