I saw a sad look on Amanda’s face as she scrabbled around in her small purse. I knew what she was doing, and had to restrain myself from giving her the money to give to the elderly gentleman in the store. She wanted to use her own money, so I squashed my motherly instincts. She left her cart in line, and walked a short distance behind the man, where she dropped the rolled up ten dollar bill to the floor. My heart and eyes filled as she gently tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to the money on the floor. As he joyfully scooped up the money, I could read his lips telling Amanda “God bless you.” My daughter nodded her head, gratefully. She smiled up at him, said a few words, and then skipped back to her cart.

I pretended to be busy with my checkbook as I quickly wiped my eyes.

Once back in our car and heading home, Amanda shyly related the story of how she had noticed the man looking at the cookies on the shelf. He had counted the change in his pocket, then put the cookies he wanted to buy back on the shelf. She said, “Mom, I knew he was hungry and he seemed sort of sad. I didn’t want him to be hungry.” I asked her, “So, did you give him some money or buy him some food?”

My little angel replied, “No, Mama. I didn’t want him to be embarrassed that I thought he was poor, so I pointed to the money on the floor that I pretended might be his. He said, ‘God bless you,’ and I really do feel blessed. I never felt better in my life. Then I showed him where there were some bananas on sale which he could also buy.”

This little, random act of kindness from my own child will continue to bless me for many years to come. Scripture says, “God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9 : 7.

I was overjoyed to see how my little girl discovered the joy of giving by coming to the assistance of the old gentleman in the grocery store, not by drawing attention to herself, but by giving of herself, anonymously.

—Angie Ledbetter.