Sometimes charity is a two-way street

Christopher wanted tuna casserole for dinner tonight, so I ran to the grocery store real quick to get the ingredients and a few other things.
I ran into a lady I used to go to church with. She's always been very sweet to me and my kids, and was shocked when I told her I've been out of work since August. I've seen her several times and my dad, stepmom and sister see her regularly. I'm not sure how this piece of news escaped her, but that doesn't really matter.
As soon as I told her that she insisted on paying for my groceries. She said God told her to.
I tried telling her she didn't have to do that, but she insisted. I kept telling her I was okay, and she still insisted.
I don't know if God spoke to her. It's not for me to say. But God knows what I have in my food stamp account. God knows I get more in a few days. God knows I have enough food in my kitchen to last until then. God knows food is the one thing I don't need.
So I really can't say whether God spoke to her or not.
But He sure spoke to me.
I'll be honest, y'all. I have very little pride left in these matters. I've had to ask for a lot of help in my life. Asking for help really hurts a body's pride.
But when people offer, it stings the pride a little too. Have you ever noticed it's harder to accept help than it is to give it? Sure you have.
My church friend had to finish her shopping and asked me to wait.
Talk about hard. I didn't really want to. I didn't feel I needed it. I actually considered going straight to the checkout line instead of waiting.
But that wasn't the point at all.
My friend was so happy to help. As we checked out, she told me that she loves to help people. She doesn't normally shop in this store, she said, but God has a plan and look at this. She came to this store so she could help me out.
Like I said, I really don't know if God spoke to her. But He spoke to me.
She was so happy to be able to  help that I think it would have been more unkind of me to deny her to spare my own pride.
Please don't think I mean that people (meaning me) should just take, take, take. That's not at all what I'm saying. Sometimes people offer help to be polite, but they don't really mean it. You can tell. What I am saying is if someone perceives you have a need and they genuinely want to meet it, it is also charity on your part to let them.
Sometimes charity isn't about the thing you are given. Sometimes charity is about not denying someone the pleasure of helping you.