Kindness comes in all shapes and sizes...

This morning after doing doublers, I was getting ready to load Roman and my stuff into the van when a guy around my age walked over to me and said, "Can I help you with your groceries?" I said, "Oh, no, thank you, I got them." Next he said, "That's ok, let me help you" Once again I said, "Oh, that's ok, I'm fine." I started getting Roman into the van and told him, "thanks, but I'll be ok." He said, "I'm just waiting for my friend to change a tire- I insist." I saw his friend working on the truck a few stalls away and said, "Ok, thank you." He said he had kids too as he loaded my things into the trunk. He finished and said, "Have a great day and a Happy New year!" I got in the van and instantly repented. He was just being a nice guy and doing a random act of kindness, but I had been so fearful and rejected his generosity. I couldn't help it though- the city girl in me came out and I first thought: Heck no, I don't need your help, you're probably going to steal my keys, my purse, my baby, or me and drive off to a deserted place and do the unthinkable. I made sure Roman was in the van and next was my purse. I couldn't help my thoughts though in the beginning. It wasn't like he was scary looking, or hitting on me in a creepy way- it was just a guy trying to do something nice and it caught me off gaurd. When he walked away, I thanked Heavenly Father for the postive outcome and the reminder that I need to let others help me too. My mother -in-law told me years ago that when I deny the help from other people- I am really denying them the blessings they would have recieved. I think about that a lot as I struggle to let people help me in life. It's kind of a fine line though too- as trustuing as we want to be, we also have to be careful, and sadly, my first thoughts were not very kind towards him as I envisioned myself dead in the trunk surrounded by groceries and clearanced down Cranberry Febreze.  Today I was thankful for the nice man and the reminder that kindness really does come in all shapes and sizes.