I was standing in line at a gas station one afternoon, just waiting to pay for my fuel like everyone else. In front of me was a young woman who seemed to be taking quite a while. I could tell something wasn’t right. Then I heard the cashier tell her that both of her cards had been declined.
She looked embarrassed and asked the cashier, “Is something wrong with your machine?” When he said no, she sighed and turned to walk away. At that moment, I happened to be smiling—just my natural expression—and she caught my eye. With frustration in her voice, she asked, “Why are you smiling?”
I gently replied, “Watch your language. I always smile—and you should too.”
She looked confused and walked out. I turned back to the cashier and asked, “What pump number is she on?”
He said, “Pump number two. Why?”
I told him, “Can I put $20 on pump two for her?”
He looked surprised and said, “Are you serious? She was pretty rude to you.”
Before I could respond, another man who was standing behind me spoke up and said, “Go ahead and fill it up—I’ll split the cost with you.”
We both paid and walked outside to let her know. When we told her that her tank was taken care of, she broke down in tears. Through sobs, she kept saying, “I’m so sorry… I shouldn’t have been rude… thank you so much.”
She went to her truck and came back with a few papers in her hand—new hire paperwork. She explained that she had just gotten a job and was supposed to start on Monday. She only needed enough gas to get through the week until her first paycheck.
In that moment, my heart felt full.
Lord, thank You for reminding me why I should always keep a smile on my face. We never truly know what someone else is going through. This experience reminded me that kindness still matters—and that we all have a purpose on this earth, even in the smallest moments.
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