You Never Know

I would always go to the same grocery store and usually go to the same cashier's line; her name is "Mary". We would exchange pleasantries and she would always be smiling, never sour and always happy to help customers.

We would chit chat about small things but after seeing this woman for a couple of years I felt the urge to get to know her more on a personal level. It turned out, that she is a widow, she is recovering from cancer, and she has a son who is very ill.

All I could think of as I stood and listened to this 70ish year old woman, telling me these horrible things in her life, is how can be so happy and cheerful all the time.

I did finally ask her "Mary, how can you be so happy, you are always a ray of sunshine and such a pleasure to talk to but you have been through so much."

Once again, with a smile on her face she replied, "Honey, I have been through a lot, but I feel that my purpose in this life is not to be upset and be depressed but to be happy for the life that God gave me."

My perspective changed that day. Suddenly, Mary was my inspiration. When something small and insignificant would bother me, I would think of Mary and all the negative things in her life and how she remained happy through it all.

I have since moved away from that area and I don't see Mary anymore, but I will never forget the lesson that I learned from her.

You just never know what a person is all about, it pays to ask, you may learn something.