Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom...

I have to say, I was a little surprised during one of last week's thunderstorms.  The postal oath talks about getting the mail to residents, no matter what,  through all types of trials and challenges. While it wasn't a mail carrier with parcels, it was the heart of the matter. 

I had just run across the Walmart parking lot in the pouring rain, now soaked from my little excursion. As I put my car in reverse I noticed movement in my rearview mirror. I stopped and took a good look to judge where the person was and saw that it was a young woman, late teens, early twenties on the next row over. She had taken her buggy back to the cart corral and was heading back to her car - or so I thought. In the pouring rain, she grabbed a second cart and took it to the corral too. I'm not sure how many times she made the effort, but I know she was soaked.

At first I thought she might on staff at the store or maybe helping her boyfriend out. Then I wondered if she needed that particular parking space.

As I drove away, she was finally heading to her vehicle, wearing a sleeveless shirt and I'm sure, chilled.

I didn't think much more about it until later, when I was standing in another store and noticed a couple making a purchase. I realized it was the same young woman and mentioned to her that I had seen her putting all the carts away.

Without hesitation, she said that all the carts were left in the handicapped spot and it would make it impossible for someone with a disability to park without getting soaked. That was it, plain and simple - she was serving others.

While some folks had selfishly left their carts in a spot that would make things that much more difficult for a person already facing a challenge, she had selflessly ran through the rain to give.

It's nice to know that there are some who live their kindness and wear their integrity, no matter what.  That there are some who "Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom..." will hinder in giving.