I'll Be Shopping With You ~ Joseph J. Mazzella ~ Living Each Day

I heard a story today that found a warm place in my heart. I don't know if it is true or not, but if it isn't then it should be. It seems a mother was recently approached by her teenage daughter who asked for a new $160 piece of electronics equipment to replace her old one. Her old one by the way was only a year old and was working fine. The wise mom said she would think about it but first could her daughter help her with some errands that afternoon.

That afternoon the mother and daughter climbed into their car and headed for the local grocery store. Once there the mom went straight to the bulk food and started loading food in the carts. Soon two shopping carts were overflowing with bags of generic rice, sacks of potatoes, boxes of ramen noodles, cases of canned vegetables, jars of peanut and jelly, and loaves upon loaves of bread. Without a word the mom headed straight for the checkout lines, paid for the food, and loaded up the car. The daughter was curious but said nothing.

The mom then drove in silence straight to a local food bank. Without a sound she started to carry in the groceries while her startled daughter helped. Soon both of them were filling up the empty shelves while the workers and needy families looked on. After a few seconds, however, both of them were showered with teary eyes, crushed with hugs, and thanked with more "God bless you's" than the daughter had ever heard before. As they were driving home the mom finally smiled and handed her daughter the receipt for the groceries. The total was $162 and change. "That is what $160 is really worth", the mom said. "Now next week we can buy you that gadget you want or we can make another trip to shop for the food bank that helped keep us alive and together when you were just a baby. It's up to you."

The daughter smiled and with tears in her eyes said, "I'll be shopping with you, Mom!"

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