Gifts
Something rather unusual happened to me this afternoon. I'd stopped at Starbucks for some coffee before going to work and sitting at one of the tables was a woman wearing a really cute hat, a black wool beret with pink and red roses. I ordered my coffee and while I was waiting for it, mentioned to the woman that I liked her hat. "Thanks," she said,"it was my mom's." I got my coffee and left, not really thinking anything more about it.
But when I reached the end of the block, I heard someone say,"Excuse me?" I turned around and it was the woman from the coffee shop. "Are you the lady who said you like my hat?" she asked. I was. "I'd like you to have it." she said and handed it to me.
Ok, I was a little surprised. "Are you sure?" I asked, since she'd mentioned it had been her mother's.
"Yes, I think you should have it." and she pressed it into my hand. Why she offered it to me, I'll probably never know but I got the feeling that she would be very hurt if I refused. I took the hat, thanked her and watched her hurry off down the street. It's a lovely gift and when I wore it to work, my boss mentioned how pretty it was.
I don't know this woman's name but I really appreciate the gift and I wonder what she saw that made her offer it to me. And I hope I can be worthy of her kindness and generosity.
But when I reached the end of the block, I heard someone say,"Excuse me?" I turned around and it was the woman from the coffee shop. "Are you the lady who said you like my hat?" she asked. I was. "I'd like you to have it." she said and handed it to me.
Ok, I was a little surprised. "Are you sure?" I asked, since she'd mentioned it had been her mother's.
"Yes, I think you should have it." and she pressed it into my hand. Why she offered it to me, I'll probably never know but I got the feeling that she would be very hurt if I refused. I took the hat, thanked her and watched her hurry off down the street. It's a lovely gift and when I wore it to work, my boss mentioned how pretty it was.
I don't know this woman's name but I really appreciate the gift and I wonder what she saw that made her offer it to me. And I hope I can be worthy of her kindness and generosity.