As the door of the supermarket swung open, a woman stepped inside. She was dressed in modest clothing, and her face was marked with an expression of despair. The woman approached the store’s owner and timidly asked if she could take some food items and pay for them later. She explained in a subdued tone that her husband was gravely ill and unable to work, leaving them with seven children who needed food.
However, the storeowner was not moved by her situation and harshly ordered his security guards to throw her out of the store. Despite being rejected, the woman persisted in pleading with him to let her have some food and promised to pay him back as soon as possible.
But the storeowner remained unmoved by her words, stating that he couldn’t give credit to someone he had never met before. At that moment, a customer who had been eavesdropping on their conversation approached the store owner, expressing his interest in accompanying the woman on her shopping trip. But his offer was ignored.
Out of curiosity, the storeowner called out to the woman and asked if she had brought a shopping list with her. She replied affirmatively and handed him a paper list. The shopkeeper suggested that she place it on a set of scales so he could weigh it as he provided the items for her purchase.
The woman hesitated but complied, placing the list on the scale. To the surprise of everyone, including the customer who had been listening in, the scales sank considerably, as if a heavy weight had been deposited on them.
Despite adding more and more food to the scales, the woman remained motionless. Frustrated, the storeowner watched as her goods remained unchanged on the scale. Suddenly, the woman noticed a piece of paper tucked away in her worn-out clothes. She pulled it out and read its contents, feeling perplexed by what she found.
To her surprise, it wasn’t a shopping list as she had thought but rather a heartfelt prayer that read, “God, You know my needs even before I can ask for them; I place this situation in Your hands.” Touched by her faith and humbled by her devotion, the storeowner offered her all the food on the scales free of charge.
As the woman left with her groceries, the storeowner blessed her with warm wishes, moved by the special moment they had shared. He couldn’t help but reflect on how her unwavering faith had turned a moment of despair into one of hope and grace.
