Nobody's here to get into a political debate. No one is denying that some government programs are abused and misused from time to time by the people they're designed to help. All this story is going to do — brilliantly, by the way — is illustrate how a little kindness and understanding can go a long way.
Nicole Marso recently shared a scene she witnessed in a local store. It starts ugly — you'll be shaking your head, wondering why anyone would be so nasty to a complete stranger. But a few kind words from Nicole and a little bit of context are enough to get you right in the old ticker. You'll be in good company; this story has tugged on the heartstrings of tens of thousands of readers and commenters so far.
If you get nothing else from this little anecdote, just remember to be kind. You never know what someone else is going through — and what a little patience and understanding might mean to them.
Here's the photo Nicole posted with the story.
That’s an expired EBT card in her hand. Welfare recipients use these debit cards to buy essentials.
Nicole obviously knew the topic of conversation was going to draw some strong reactions, so this preface was a good choice.
All right, buckle up. It's story time.
Like all good stories, this one has a horrid villain. What good could possibly come from saying something so nasty and unsolicited?
First, what a great quote that is!
But more importantly, if you've never been in that situation, it can be hard to sympathize. Trying to hide the way you pay for something in a crowded place isn't something most people ever deal with.
Here's where Nicole brings her story home.
Nicole was the perfect person to witness what happened in that checkout line, and she provided a few kind words for the woman in front of her.
The point is, you don't know the particulars of someone else's situation. You don't know their story or where they came from, so who are you to judge a stranger — or anyone?
Most important, remember how many people are working hard to change their situations.
The story obviously resonated with social media:
The comments section of the post has since exploded.
The political divide is unavoidable given the issue, but the praise for Nicole's actions is nearly universal.
And of course, there's plenty of support for that anonymous mom who was just doing the best she could.
But the overarching theme is kindness.
These commenters — all 8,800 and counting — are promoting the crazy idea of simply being decent human beings.
It's a torrent of positive messages and encouragement to others to follow Nicole's example.
Success stories like these are what give everyone else faith in the system.
Kindness, patience, and understanding — all things this world could use a little more of!
