it was only $20...

this afternoon for work, our medical building had a "patient appreciation day" that included goody bags, a bounce house, cake, a live band, and door prizes for our patients and their families. i happened to be standing at a table in the upstairs lobby area when one man's name in particular was called announcing the winning of a door prize. i had met this man a few minutes before as we had discussed what clinical trials and medical research were all about. this man and his family that he brought (his daughter and son) were not your normal/average looking family. their clothes were dirty...shoes worn out..hair disheveled, and to the human eye, not the most attractive people..and yet SMILES on all of their faces. they were not by the world's standards "priviledged" and yet i couldn't take my eyes off of where they were sitting the whole time i stood there. they laughed, they smiled, they ate the free food with appreciation and gratitude....i found them to be beautiful.

so when the man's name was called to receive a door prize, i was so happy because he had been eagerly awaiting at a near-by table to see if he was a winner. his daughter in particular cheered on her dad, and when he found out his prize was a $20 gas card to ingles (a local grocery store), he was overjoyed. and then about 20 seconds later, someone clarified to him that his free gift wasn't just a gas card, but could be used for anything at ingles should he choose to buy food, etc.

OH MY GOSH! you would have thought you gave the man a gold bar. he said, "you mean i can buy ANYTHING at ingles for $20?! i can use this IN the store?!" ...he then excitedly showed his gift card to his daughter exclaiming, "WE CAN GO SHOPPING IN INGLES!" his daughter's eyes lit up (she was probably about 10 years old) and she got this huge smile on her face. and over and over he just kept on and on about having $20 to go shopping with at ingles. i cry just remembering how i held back hot tears that stung my eyes so no one would see how touched i was. if this man and his daughter would be that happy about twenty bucks to use at a nice grocery store in town, imagine how selfish, ashamed, and spoiled i felt just being within earshot of his joy. 

there's really no point here i am trying to drive home to you. it was just, wow. one of those moments i wanted to high five them and tell them how happy i was for them. one of those moments i wanted to put in a jar and open on days i feel particularly low about being me, about having my life. one of those moments i never ever ever want to forget.