The woman pretended not to hear the older gentleman argue with the cashier that he had indeed given him a $20 bill and a $5 bill as a prepay for gas.
The pump only allowed him $5 worth of gas, however, so the gentleman assumed the cashier had made a mistake. The cashier stood his ground. “Sir, you only gave me $5.”
While the two went back and forth, the woman inched in a little closer as she realized a different battle was warring within her spirit.
She really needed the $20 — an about-to-have-her-power-cut-off type of needed it.
But it was wrong to take someone else’s money and even more inappropriate to allow an innocent person to be blamed, she reasoned.
Still, the temptation to stand quietly in line and attempt to become invisible almost won out — until it didn’t.
Interjecting into the heated conversation, the woman pulled the $20 bill from her pocket and explained how it had fallen before making it to the counter.
She had snatched it up, thinking how lucky she had been to be standing in that spot at that exact time.
“I really need this $20, but it’s not right for me to take it,” she told the gentleman as she handed it to him.
Astonished at her humbleness and honesty, he thanked her and said he wished he could give her the $20 but he needed the gas for where he was headed.
She appreciated his kindness. After all, he could have responded harshly.
Now running a bit late for his appointment, he scurried out the door to pump the $20 worth of gas and be on his way.
He didn’t forget what happened, however, and during the next few days, her expressed need continued to haunt him. He finally determined he would drive back to the area and see if he could find her — but not before stopping by the bank to get a $50 bill.
Once he arrived at the gas station where the episode took place, hunger pangs quickly drew his attention to a nearby restaurant.
“I’ll run in and grab a bite to eat before I start driving around the area,” he thought to himself as he swung open the door.
People were flowing all around — some getting in line to order, some cleaning up their table to leave and others grabbing napkins and other essentials.
As the gentleman made his way to the counter, he stopped suddenly as a woman to his left turned toward him. He almost didn’t believe what he was seeing. It was the woman from the gas station.
He reintroduced himself and shared how he had returned to the area in hopes of finding her because he wanted to give her $50 as a thank you for her honesty. He wanted her to know that her action that day inspired him.
She started crying and hugged the gentleman. “Fifty dollars will keep my power on another month,” she said. “I’m going to take it there right now. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Awareness radar
The next day I happened to be chatting with this same gentleman. As I shared about a different situation where the Lord was working and the needs that were surfacing, he told me his story.
His experience is an example of the types of stories we frequently hear related to how God is moving and the difference it makes for all involved.
The more I hear, the more I want to see — so much so that I’m continually sharpening my awareness radar and broadening my expectations.
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