Good Deed Friday

Well I learned this morning that it was Good Deed Friday today, so I thought I'd make today a day of good deeds. I'm sorta disappointing in myself and how unobservant and thoughtless I am/can be. Several times throughout the day I had many opportunities I could have performed good deeds but I didn't recognize them till it was too late or until I felt it was too late and it would have been dumb to do it now sort of thing. I could have called a friend and offered to take her children to school (although they would have been late because Levi couldn't find his shoe this morning). I could have put some notes on my kids and husbands pillows or pockets this morning (can still do pillows...). I could have done Julie's or Patsy's payroll today, I could have called on diagnosis for Marlene, Julie or Amanda, I could have bought someone's lunch today, I could have taken a few of Client Services calls. So many things I could have done if I were observant enough to realize them before they happen.
Well I hope I redeemed myself tonight on my way home from work. Kerby needed some meal worms for fishing bait tomorrow so I was stopping at Sportsman's Warehouse to buy those for him (I guess that's a good deed, I didn't even realize that). While in there I decided to stop next store at the dollar store and quickly look for some rocks. I saw they didn't have the rocks I was looking for but of course found a few other things (all sorts of flash cards) and went up to pay. The whole time I was in there a mother was dealing with her crying baby and her toddler running around while she tried to quickly get the items she needed. I was waiting at the check out for my turn and wondering if I should go try getting her toddler to stay by her. I was worried she'd think I was trying to kidnap him or something. Ok, come on I'll be honest, I was really actually in a hurry to get to my sisters house and kept thinking about that. Well I didn't have to battle with that decision very long because she soon came walking up to the check out line with just a little bit more items than I had. I had a little heart growth I guess and decided I'd let her go in line before me, she was very grateful and looked very relieved. So it's her turn and she hears her total, she searched everywhere for her money that she is never able to find. So, she did what any emotional mother overwhelmed with a crying baby and a rambunctious toddler while trying to go on what would seem to be just a simple quick shopping trip. She started to sob. :( Literally she broke down and started crying and dumping the contents of her purse onto the floor. I told the cashier to add my items to hers and that I would pay for her on my purchase. The man (cashier) said to the woman, "is that ok if I do that?" She looked up at me with such gratitude in her eyes and asked me if I was sure, I told her I was and she told the cashier that of course it was ok with her. I wish I had the money to do that every time I went shopping, it felt really good.
Well, driving out of the parking lot I was stopped at the light waiting for it to turn green, waiting at the corner was a homeless man, there is always some homeless person at this corner and if I ever have a couple dollars I'll give it to them. A few years ago I saw this very skinny, dirty homeless girl a few days before Christmas with no coat in the snow. I had the strong feeling to take her home. I am not exaggerating, the feeling was so strong that I should take this girl home with me and try to help her out. She couldn't have been older than 20. I've had so many excuses over the years go through my head but to this day I still think about her every time I drive past that corner or see a homeless person or even just see someone walking down that road. I can't stop thinking about her and I completely regret not following that feeling and helping her out. So, ever since then I help out where I can whether it's a few bottles of water, money or once I had a $5 Wal-Mart gift card that I gave. Today was my lucky day because I just happened to have a $5 bill so I rolled down my window to get his attention. He wasn't hearing me call out "sir" I pulled forward a little bit and tried again, he still wasn't hearing me and I knew the light would turn green soon. I just stared at him and hoped he'd look up, just as I was about to honk my horn he looked up and I motioned for him to come over. I hand him the money and he was so grateful, they always are. I know some readers may be thinking that all that man will do is purchase alcohol with it, that's what I used to think but I don't care. He can buy whatever he chooses with it, if it's alcohol he buys, maybe it will keep him warm tonight and make him forget his worries for a night. If it's food that's great, whatever he buys I'm happy I could give him some happiness for a short time.
So, then I went to my sister Tina's house to bring them home and babysit while they go out on a date. They watched out kids for Valentines Day so tonight is my turn. All in all I think it turned out to be a good deed day. I wish I had been more observant throughout the day, especially since I told myself I would do that but I think it ended up good. I'm not telling you this to brag, I just want everyone to have a good deed story to read. Let's all do more good deeds and not just on Good Deed Friday. Let's be observant to the needs that are around us, obviously we can't do everything for everyone but I know that many (especially me) need to serve others more. You know when you get the feeling to call someone? Many times I ignore those thoughts and don't call, I need to start being better at that and just doing it.
What are your stories for Good Deed Friday? Comment here or on my Facebook page.