Inspiring Service

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” Charles Dickens

I admit, I was staring.

A couple in the grocery store was moving between the aisles as an odd, yet efficient team.  The wife was constrained to using a walker, so the husband “drove” a motorized cart through the aisles as the wife held on the back while seated on top of her walker.

The operation was impressive.

Whenever the wife spotted something on her list she needed, she would point at the item. He would stop their little train, hop off the cart, and put the object in their basket.

While he was the driver and retriever, she was the master of the list. He followed her lead even though he was the more “able-bodied” of the pair. Based on their efficiency, I could tell this was a typical outing.

We kept looping each other down one aisle and up another, and I couldn’t take my eyes off their interaction.

Even at a distance I loved seeing unconditional, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, playing out in the middle of the bakery section. How great that the husband didn’t take the list and do the shopping by himself.  How wonderful that they worked as a team.

Most relationships aren’t so obvious in their affection or their “togetherness,” but this couple exemplified both, row after row, food item after food item.

I couldn’t help but see how selflessness is impressive in its own unique way. You won't see loud banners or flashing lights calling attention to itself, but there’s still something wildly compelling about it. This is a goodness that demands to be attended to.

This couple encourages me to love better, to think more of others and less of me. In your life do you have anyone who does that for you? Do you ever think how you could be an inspiration to others?

Later, in the parking lot I watched as the husband unloaded the groceries and worked patiently to help his wife into the car, and I drove away inspired and grateful for witnessing selflessness in action.