The other day I was in Wal-Mart looking at Easter things. We are assembling a box of Easter goodies to send to our son in Iraq. I noticed a bag of camouflage plastic Easter eggs and commented to the woman standing next to me, “Oh, these are cute. My son is in Iraq and we’re putting together an Easter basket box for him. These would be perfect.”

The next thing I knew, she was pressing a $10 bill into my hand.

“Please put something in the box from me,” she said.

“Oh, no!” I said, pushing her hand away. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, please,” she said. “I don’t know where to send it.”

I was floored.

I thanked her profusely.      

I stuttered and stammered. Tears welled up in my eyes and I got choked up. I was caught so off-guard, I didn’t even think to ask her name, but I hope she reads this.

“Dear Generous Woman in Wal-Mart,

“Thank you so very much for the $10 gift to my son’s Easter box. That was an incredibly kind gesture. As a matter of fact, your random act of kindness touched more than one soldier. You see, my daughter has a friend who is now in the Air Force in Germany. His family is not supportive of his decision to join the military and does not send him care packages. He writes to my daughter on the computer when he can and recently asked if we could send him something ‘from home.’ He didn’t ask for cookies and other homemade treats. Instead he asked for plastic cups! He said the cups on base are inadequate and glassware is too expensive.

   “We are assembling an Easter basket box for this airman, too. We bought plastic cups and matching plastic plates and bowls to send him. With the money you offered, we went to the dollar store and bought candy, gum and other goodies to add to the Easter basket boxes.

“We will make sure to let our son and my daughter’s friend know that some of the contents in the box are from you, a stranger who committed a random act of kindness.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

 The other day in the grocery store an elderly man in front of me plunked about 16 packages of Top Ramen and a container of Cool Whip on the conveyer belt. I have a feeling that was meant to be his supper for several nights in a row. His order came to a little more than $5 and he paid for it with a food stamp card.

It bothered me. I mean it really bothered me. I considered handing him some cash to buy some meat or tuna or peanut butter or fresh fruit, but I didn’t know what to say and I didn’t want to insult him.

I wish I had had more time to strike up a conversation with him. I wish I had asked him if Top Ramen was going to be his meal for the week.

 With heating oil prices and gas prices rising, I think many elderly people are struggling to eat, pay for life-saving medication and heat their homes.

   I felt as if I had let this stranger down. I let an opportunity to help someone slip through my fingers and it made me sad. I have thought about that old man ever since that night. I hope he is OK. I hope he bought all that Top Ramen because he likes it, not because he had no choice. Maybe he has a pregnant granddaughter who has an insatiable craving for Top Ramen.

   If I see him again, I plan on being as generous as the woman in Wal-Mart. A random act of kindness can go a long way to brighten someone’s day.

– Renee Worthing