"A Moment of Unexpected Grace"

"A Moment of Unexpected Grace" 

Recently, my wife and I encountered another opportunity to put generosity into action.

While visiting a hospital gift shop, I noticed a woman at the counter, visibly distressed as she realized she didn’t have enough money for the items she wanted to purchase. Her hands were almost shaking, and she seemed both shocked and embarrassed by the unexpectedly high prices.

Sensing her discomfort, I gently placed my left hand on hers and quietly reassured her, “God’s got this. You can go and take your items with you.” At first, she was stunned, unsure how to respond to such an offer. I smiled and told her it was all right. Her tension melted into gratitude; she smiled, said thank you, and left with her items.

After she walked away, I paid the clerk for her purchases and for the gifts I had come to buy for a patient on the third floor. That simple act cost me little, but the impact was profound—for both her and me. It was a reminder that opportunities to give appear in everyday moments, and with God’s help, we can meet them with open hands and hearts.

Each time my wife and I experience moments like these, we’re reminded that the joy of giving is not just in the act itself, but in seeing someone’s burden lifted, if only for a moment. God’s love often flows through the simplest gestures—a touch, a word, a gift freely given—and in those moments, we all receive something far greater than what we give away.

We don’t give to be seen, but perhaps, when others witness genuine kindness, it plants a seed—encouraging them to give, too, in that next "moment of unexpected grace."