My heart is a bit lighter these days, all because a stranger connected with me.
A few days before Christmas, I went to a local store searching for some new jeans. A helpful clerk named Alice was able to help me find some that fit well, and I even found a bonus purchase of a dress for half price.
We chatted about all things Christmas, and I went home with my purchases. I looked at the receipt and did a double take; the charge for the dress wasn’t anywhere to be found. I wanted to wear it to an up-coming party, but also knew I needed to return to the store and pay for it. I decided to just save the tag and bring it in with my receipt.
I wore the dress to one party, then another. The days slipped by and I kept procrastinating about returning to the store. I didn’t really want to go back.
Wrongly Accused
Several years prior, I’d come in to the same store to return a still-tagged dress in the bag with my receipt. I was shocked when the manager loudly accused me of grabbing a second dress off the rack and trying to return it for profit. The memory caused me anxiety over possibly being wrongly accused again. Admittedly, my embarrassment was likely heightened because I really did shoplift at a Fred Meyer back in high school. I’ve struggled with forgiving myself all these years.
My procrastination about the dress came to a halt when I felt God firmly telling me Go Now. Chastened, I called the store to make sure Alice was working…maybe just a little hopeful she was off that day. Nope. She came on the line and I explained what happened and why I’d waited so long to return.
When I arrived, she was on the phone, and I explained to the eager clerk I needed to have Alice help me. After she hung up she came around the counter and asked “Are you Denise?” I nodded and she said she had to finish something and she’d be right with me. She stayed on the customer side of the counter and had a cashier ring up a sale for her. I thought it odd, but didn’t pay a lot of attention. I chatted briefly with another cashier and she told me the inventory was taking place tomorrow morning at 5:30. It didn’t escape my notice for God’s timing to not have the dress missing during inventory.
Alice came back round the counter and I handed her the dress tag and receipt. She rang it up and then said she was giving me an additional 15% off because of her appreciation. I was pleased and thought it was very generous. Paying $19.42 for a $42.00 dress was awesome enough, but then she surprised me even more.
The Gift of Connection
She said “I’m so sorry for what happened to you before in this store and I want to make it up to you.” She handed me a $20 gift card, which was what she’d been paying for while I waited earlier. After I thanked her, she explained “The same thing happened to me once and I know how you must have felt.” Click. There was a powerful connection for me. We both agreed about how humiliating it was to be wrongly accused of something, especially in public.
I left the store feeling elated. My heart was doing funny things and I realized I was grinning like a Cheshire cat. The connection with Alice was so unexpected and I felt deep gratitude for her generous and kind heart. I appreciate the gift card, but the truly lasting gift of the experience is somehow it’s giving me permission to forgive myself for the shoplifting I did more than 30 years ago.
I’m grateful for God showing me His plans, always full of interesting details, and so much better than mine. All I hoped for was to not get wrongly accused, and all the while He had a plan for connection and healing through a stranger.
How about you? Have you had something go much better than planned?
Jan 27, 2014 @ 01:22:17
This is an extraordinary story, Denise. Actually, I’m not sure I’m as honest as you. I bought a cantaloupe last weekend and I realised on the receipt it said .01 – somehow I was charged only .01 cent for it. I didn’t take it back. I thought it was a bonus, as in the huge supermarket was doing fine, and it wasn’t my fault their machine didn’t work properly – AND it would be a great hassle going back to point out their mistake. So truly, I’m impressed, Denise.
As for what that woman did – that’s just beautiful, really beautiful she did that.
LikeLike
Jan 29, 2014 @ 10:52:47
🙂 Well, I’ve had my share of not-so-honest moments too! Alice was really the hero to me that day. Good to hear from you!
LikeLike
Jan 24, 2014 @ 09:33:25
“Click. There was a powerful connection for me.”
Isn’t it amazing how powerful it is simply to know someone else understands…truly understands…what we’re experiencing at an emotional level?
I think this is why the concept of Jesus being Immanuel…God with us…is so powerful. He really does understand…He’s been there…He’s felt the sorrow, the loss, the temptation. He understands!
LikeLike
Jan 24, 2014 @ 16:26:50
Ah, to be understood. It is an amazing feeling, and you’re exactly right -it’s the point of Jesus coming to Earth to show us He knows. Really knows.
LikeLike
Jan 22, 2014 @ 18:55:59
Love this story! You’ve got some good ones too.
LikeLike
Jan 23, 2014 @ 10:16:05
Thanks! As do you 🙂
LikeLike
Jan 17, 2014 @ 02:07:50
How wonderful is this story!! As you say, God’s plans are always full of interesting details, and I love how He worked this one out. He really does show His love in so many amazing ways. Thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLike
Jan 17, 2014 @ 05:43:11
Hi Ali,
He definitely left his fingerprints on that experience! 🙂
LikeLike
Jan 15, 2014 @ 17:19:42
Great ending to that story, Denise. I know those feelings of terror and anxiety. I hate returning things, even when I know it’s perfectly fine to return an item, I just get nervous that someone will think I’m doing something dishonest. Those old feelings of childhood guilt, I guess.
Alice is very nice, and I’m glad you made that connection with her.
LikeLike
Jan 16, 2014 @ 11:01:19
Guilt is a heavy weight…it makes me feel better to know I’m not alone, but wish none of us felt that way.
LikeLike
Jan 15, 2014 @ 12:40:23
Good to see you again, Denise! Even though I haven’t had an experience like yours to cause it, there’s something about my personality that always makes me imagine that a potentially awkward or difficult situation will turn out badly. I’m glad yours turned out in such a positive way.
LikeLike
Jan 16, 2014 @ 11:00:33
It’s easy to go down that road…I wish a time of surprise for you soon!
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 18:43:25
Denise – What a wonderful story of hope, forgiveness of ourselves and our past. I often find it easier to make something right on a daily basis than to do so when my behavior is exhibited by my past. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
Jan 16, 2014 @ 10:59:22
A good motto, Sheri! 😉
LikeLike
Jan 13, 2014 @ 19:10:33
What a great story of new starts! And I agree with you that the gift card pales in comparison with the joy of a new connection.
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:21:21
Thanks, Allen!
LikeLike
Jan 13, 2014 @ 15:13:55
Now THAT is customer service. There is a way to do your job, and a way to do your job well. Alice did her job well.
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:20:04
She certainly did, Robin!
Above and beyond…for sure!
LikeLike
Jan 13, 2014 @ 07:38:53
what an encouraging article – something similar happened to me and DH years ago we were charged .45 for a $45 bike, and the clerk kept trying to give us a refund, not understanding we wanted to pay for the bike finally not knowing what to do she called the store manager and low and behold it was someone we both used to work with and she said she figured it had to be us – paying for something that was rung up incorrectly. Sad to say many bikes went out of the store at .45 because it was put incorrectly in the computer system. Because of your previous incident it makes it even more worthy of you to do the right thing.
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:16:14
Wow! That’s an amazing story, Patty! It’s hard to imagine the clerks not noticing such a discrepancy -let alone customers not saying anything. It says much about your character that the manager pictured it being you and DH trying to right a wrong! 😉
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 17:17:51
It goes to show that we were raised with parents who taught us about honesty… Blessings.
LikeLike
Jan 13, 2014 @ 07:29:30
What a lovely story. Rare and so lovely. Great way to start my Monday, reading this and smiling. The ripple effects from acts of kindness are so awesome. Hugs!
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:14:48
Hi Paulette!
So glad the story made you smile -Alice’s generosity has spread good cheer all the way to California! 🙂
LikeLike
Jan 13, 2014 @ 05:46:07
Welcome back Denise! Thanks for sharing such a positive story. Isn’t is great when we fear the worst and instead the best happens? Alice sounds very sweet! She probably had no idea how much her compassion would touch you … and now us 🙂
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:14:05
Thanks Arlene! Isn’t it amazing how much we can impact each other? For good or for bad -it’s our choice!
Good to be back in the blogging world again -it’s been tough getting back after the holidays.
LikeLike
Jan 12, 2014 @ 20:29:16
Hi Denise
Welcome back! I missed you. Hope you had a great vacation, hope all is well and you were just taking a time off from your blog. Happy New Year!
I appreciate your courage and the kindness of Alice too. That was an awesome experience! You have articulated the incident so well, with all the right emotions… they are actually reaching my heart.
Thanks for sharing it with so much of sincerity!
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:12:47
Hi Balroop! You are so sweet! Thanks so much! It’s been hard getting back in the groove after the holidays.
It makes me smile reading my story touched your heart. Thank you for telling me that.
I hope 2014 is off to a good start for you. I”m looking forward to getting back to the blogging community and catching up on everyone’s blogs -including yours!
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 18:14:37
Thank you Denise! I am glad to know you had a nice break. Looking forward to a lot in 2014!
LikeLike
Jan 12, 2014 @ 20:05:51
You have an extraordinary ability to weave such a lovely tale. Thanks for sharing with us. My heart is doing a little jig just for you. I loved reading how you were bathed in Grace.
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:10:58
Thanks Daleen! He did extend His grace so beautifully. I am in awe of how he tied so many details together so I’d know for sure it was Him. tingles…
LikeLike
Jan 12, 2014 @ 19:28:38
Congrats on facing your fears Denise. What a beautiful story and gift for you.
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:10:06
Hey Brad!
It truly is!
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 19:59:09
Wonderful!
LikeLike
Jan 12, 2014 @ 18:42:55
You did all that worrying for nothing – and received in abundance! Wonderful story Denise, and thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:09:25
Abundance! And then some 🙂
Thanks Barb, and Happy New Year!
LikeLike
Jan 12, 2014 @ 18:14:45
Wonderful story, Denise. You overcame your fears and were rewarded with so much. Thank you for sharing this. 🙂
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:08:58
Hi Lizabeth -thanks for stopping by. Yes, I was reminded facing my fear is a good thing! So hard, though!
Hope your new year is off to a good start.
LikeLike
Jan 12, 2014 @ 17:23:20
What a wonderful story! I wish we heard more about these types of things. I think it happens more than the negative media would have us belief. Helps improve our outlook of humanity.
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:07:30
Hi Carrie,
Yes, I think people like Alice should make the headlines and bump the bad news off air. We’d all be in a better frame of mind!
LikeLike
Jan 12, 2014 @ 17:14:41
This is just beautiful, Denise. The kindness of strangers is amazing and can be wonderfully overwhelming 😉
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:04:33
“Wonderfully Overwhelming” That about sums it up, Dianne!
LikeLike
Jan 12, 2014 @ 16:51:14
What a great story, Denise. Thanks for sharing it.
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:03:03
You’re welcome, Esther! People like Alice should make the top headlines instead of trashy movie stars…
LikeLike
Jan 12, 2014 @ 16:47:22
Denise, that’s a wonderful story. You were so intent on condemning yourself and God just wanted to bless you. He’s so good. Thanks for sharing that!
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:02:29
Thanks, Diane! He really does have so much more in store for us that we can dream up, doesn’t He?
LikeLike
Jan 12, 2014 @ 15:52:38
What an awesome experience. I’m so glad you fought your fear and went back, although I’m not sure what I would have done! Especially because of the previous incident, you were even more brave!
LikeLike
Jan 14, 2014 @ 08:01:55
Thank you…I think my bravery pales, though, in comparision with Alice’s generosity and kindess. She was really my hero that day!
LikeLike