Angels Are Real (Especially in Grocery Stores)

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• Angels Are Real (Especially in Grocery Stores)

by Sarah Collins

Updated: April 7, 2021

Originally Published: November 25, 2015

Every grocery trip with my kids leaves me with a cart full of groceries and a heart full of regrets. I always wonder why I don’t just order my groceries online instead.

Last week, I decided to take the kids shopping right after picking up my 3-year-old from preschool. I had a mere 80 minutes before lunch, which seemed totally doable—at least in theory.

I arrived at preschool a tad early. As soon as Lily spotted me, she exclaimed, “I didn’t think you’d come!” Not the most encouraging start. The moment we headed to the car, she took off running.

“I need you to get in the car, please,” I called out. In response, she dove straight into a pile of leaves.

“We don’t have time for playing. Get in, please!” I insisted. She buried herself deeper in the leaves as I scooped her up and plopped her in the car. She fought back, hitting my arm.

“Deep breaths,” I reminded myself, but deep breathing was out of the question now. “No hitting,” I said, my frustration bubbling over. Time for a quick timeout, even though we really couldn’t spare one. I directed her to a bucket in the garage for three minutes of reflection. Meanwhile, my podcast about happiness played ironically in the background.

Once I got her buckled back in, she apologized, but I was already drained, and we hadn’t even reached the grocery store. Upon arrival, the parking lot was packed.

After a few frustrating loops, I finally found a spot, unbuckled the girls, and hurried across the lot with my toddler in one arm and my 3-year-old’s hand in the other. As we approached the entrance, Lily spotted her favorite race-car cart. However, it was soaked from the earlier rain. I pretended to be disappointed. “Oh no, it’s wet! Let’s look for another one.”

Once inside, my arm ached from holding the baby. I set her down to search for a dry cart, only to find that the available ones were barely big enough for a couple of frozen meals. Panic set in when I looked back to see my toddler wandering toward a stack of drinks. I quickly snatched her up and ordered Lily to stay put. I dashed outside, retrieved the soggy race-car cart, and pushed it up the ramp with all my strength.

No time for a wet cart today.

Once back inside the store, I set my toddler down, told Lily to hold her hand, and raced off to find a towel, glancing back just in time to catch the baby lunging toward the drink display. I quickly grabbed tissues from the service desk and dashed back just in time to prevent a disaster.

Balancing the baby on one hip and the tissues under my arm, I tilted the cart to drain the water, which only resulted in a puddle on the floor. I covered it with some free newspapers as I assessed my options. Lunchtime was rapidly approaching, and the only thing worse than shopping with kids was shopping with hungry kids. I almost considered heading home.

And then, out of nowhere, an angel appeared.

She had long, curly dark hair, glasses perched on her nose, and a loaf of bread in her hands. When she spoke, it felt like a soothing melody cut through my chaotic reality. “Can I help you?” she asked, and I nearly cried with relief.

“Um, yes…” I stammered. “I’m just a bit overwhelmed.”

At that moment, a clerk from the service desk appeared with a roll of paper towels. He handed them to my angel, and I stood there, holding the baby and Lily’s hand while they tidied up the cart. “You two are being so patient,” she said to my girls. “I’m a mom, so I totally understand how tough it can be.”

We exchanged a knowing smile. She didn’t need to mention her motherhood; I could see she understood the whirlwind I was navigating. She saw me—not just a flustered mom with a messy cart and two little ones—but a weary parent trying to manage life with a time crunch and a full grocery list.

Her small act of kindness reminded me that angels truly exist. If I had chosen to do my shopping online, I would have missed out on this moment. Thank you, kind stranger, for your help today!

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Summary

Navigating grocery shopping with little ones can be overwhelming, but sometimes, unexpected kindness shines through the chaos. One mom’s experience illustrates that amidst the challenges, angels can appear in the most mundane places, reminding us of the support and understanding that exists in the world.