Yesterday Matt was sick. I picked up Archie from the sitter and Eloise from school and decided to run to the supermarket for a few things. I had hoped to be in and leave in a hurry.

I found just one person ahead of me and began organizing my items in advance. After placing my items, I looked up to see that the person ahead of me was an elderly woman. She was paying for her items with change and wanted to purchase each separately. I watched the young employee with this woman. I watched him help her count her change, ever so carefully taking it from her shaking hands. I listened to him repeatedly saying “yes, mam” to her. When she asked if she had enough to buy a bag, he told her she did and went two lines over to get one for her. Never once did this employee roll his eyes. He was nothing but patient and kind.

As I was watching him, I saw that Eloise was too. She was standing next to the woman, watching the employee count the change. I realized I hadn’t been inconvenienced at all. My daughter was being taught the valuable lesson by a complete stranger.

When the woman was finished, the employee began ringing up my items and thanked me for my patience. I then thanked him for teaching us patience and kindness by his treatment of that elderly woman. When he was finished I pushed my cart trying to find the manager. I wanted her to know of the employee’s great quality. After sharing the story with her, we left Target, but what was more, a heart full of gratitude for such an invaluable lesson.