Every Tuesday, Liisa Benson from Midvale heads to her 96-year-old grandmothers house.
Mary Brents shops at Aldi and enjoys Liisa picking her up for their scheduled shopping day.
On Jan. 26, this particular weekly shopping excursion turned out to be something Benson says will stay with her forever.
Im always first in line, said Benson, so I can help my grandma. Our bill was $65. I dug in my purse for my debit card, but for some reason, couldnt find it anywhere. As I was searching, my grandma asked if I needed money. I told her she didnt have that much and continued looking through my purse. I had $25 in cash, but not $65.
Benson knew shed just have to put the groceries back. Before she even suggested it to the cashier, a woman behind her grandmother said, Let me get that.
She didnt even hesitate, said Benson. She was by herself, and the people in the store say they have never seen her before. I thought I might have my checkbook with me and could write her a check, but I found out it was my health savings account. I told her she could at least take my $ 25, but she gently pushed my arm away. She told me to consider it an early birthday or Christmas gift. I asked her for her name and address so I could send her the money, but again she quietly refused.
Benson describes the lady as sweet as cream with an angelic aura about her.
I know if it was $5 or $10, adds Benson, that I would try to help someone out. But, $65? Who does that? I felt like I couldnt give her a proper thank you.
Ironically, Benson later found her debit card in her purse. It was stuck in her cell phone pocket in the front of her purse, where she says she would normally never put it. She also found out that her grandmother actually had $200 with her that day, but because she is very hard of hearing, did not hear the conversation and didnt realize she really needed it.
In the past few days, Benson has been thinking a lot about the experience at the grocery store.
Family and friends smile and say, Well, maybe it was an angel.
Its not every day, said Benson, that you run into an act of kindness that makes you so grateful. I couldnt thank her enough. One face I will never erase in my memory is the woman who truly touched my heart completely.
The story does not end there. Bensons furnace went out days later. Thankfully, Liisas husband, Mark, has a friend who owns a heating and cooling business. Ron, from Musick Myers Heating and Cooling came over, checked out the furnace, returned the next day with a part that was needed and fixed the furnace. When Mark asked how much he owed Ron, he said, Not a thing.
Because of their friendship, he didnt charge him for the part or the service call. So, Mark remembering the act of kindness bestowed to Liisa, gave Ron $60 he had in cash.
I think if someone shows kindness to you, said Liisa, you should always try to give back. I always feel special when I take my grandma to Aldi and someone hands me a cart so I dont have to put a quarter in to get one. So, instead of getting a quarter back when I bring my cart back, I always try to do the same and give someone else my cart, paying it forward.
Benson says she will always remember the lady in the store and likes to think of her as the angel she met that day. She continues to tell the story to co-workers, family, and friends hoping they might have an experience like that one day or encouraging them to be the one paying it forward.
