Sixteen years ago I had a newborn and an almost two-year old. Back then I tried to do all of my grocery shopping for the month in one trip to limit the number of times I tempted fate by taking a baby and a toddler to the grocery store. I don't remember the precise details of the shopping trip I'm writing about today, but here is what I do remember:
Isak was in his car seat in the child seat at the front of the cart. At some point in the shopping trip he started screaming. Maybe he was hungry, maybe he had a dirty diaper. I'm not sure. I imagine that I was rushing to get my shopping done as quickly as possible so that I could get him out to the car to take care of him. I'd like to note that Isak did NOT have a sweet little newborn cry. He was nicknamed Screechy for a reason. His pterodactyl-like cry could drive even the most calm parent to the brink of a nervous breakdown, so I'm sure that by the time I got to the check out I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and frazzled. I managed to pay for and load up all of my groceries while keeping Becca from touching all the things, trying to calm my inconsolable baby, and avoiding the looks of other shoppers whose shopping experiences were being dampened by the circus going on around me. It was at that moment, when I'd almost made it to the finish line, that Becca decided to throw a tantrum and throw herself on the ground screaming and wailing. There I was, trying to push a very full cart loaded down with a month's worth of groceries and a screeching baby with one hand, while I tried to lift and carry a flailing two-year old with the other hand.
That is when a couple approached me. All I can really remember about them is that they were Asian and didn't speak English very well, but they offered to push my cart to the car for me so that I could carry Becca. We got to my car, and being so grateful to be out of the store and one step closer to the end of the ordeal, I thanked them. But then they suggested that they could load my groceries into the car for me while I took care of getting the children in their car seats. They kindly did so, returned my cart to the cart corral, waved goodbye and then walked out of my life forever.
That 5-10 minute interaction in which few words were exchanged that happened 16 years ago has had such an impact on my life that when I was prompted yesterday to highlight a personal hero, someone who exemplifies Christlike love, I thought of that couple. Not only did their selflessness and willingness to take time to help me lighten my burden in the moment, but their example has influenced me significantly since then. They are the reason that I look for people who may be having a rough moment and need some assistance. They are the reason that when someone at the store asks me to help them find something or reach something on a high shelf, I gladly do it. They are the reason that I take time to listen to a stranger who simply needs to talk and have someone listen to them for just a few minutes.
I honestly can't think of a better example of Christlike behavior. The Savior lifted the burdens of individuals wherever He saw a need and through His interactions with them, changed them for the better, just as my unknown heroes did for me.
