A Wal-Mart Story with a Happy Ending... Imagine That!

Last Saturday night, I was staying at Mom's in Millington, as I am wont to do on Saturdays since I have to be in Millington so early anyway. I stopped by the local Wal-Mart (begrudgingly, as I am not a fan any longer) to pick up a few essentials. It was late; I had just gotten off work, and I was tired and a little cranky.

Unfortunately, I took it out on the poor, sweet woman at the checkout counter. I was paying with my debit card, but when I set up my debit card, the automated system didn't take my PIN, so I can't use it at an ATM, and when I use it in a store it has to be run as a credit card. So the woman asked to see my ID. No problem, right? Wrong. I scoured my purse and could not find my driver's license anywhere. So I had to cancel the transaction.

I was FUMING. I was wearing incredibly painful new shoes, and they had been killing my feet all night. Then I had walked through Wal-Mart for half an hour, all for naught. I was almost in tears.

I was also indignant because, working in retail myself, I know that refusing a transaction because someone doesn't show ID is a breach of the Creditor- Merchant Agreement. (My store has actually been fined several times for asking for ID, and have had to stop. We are only allowed to ask if the back of the card says "See ID.") Normally, I am appalled by this; it's an identity thief's hayday out there, huh? But at that moment, I was tempted to call Visa and report them! (Not that they would do anything to Wal-Mart but maybe give them a drop-in-the-bucket fine, but it was the principle.)

As soon as I got to the car, I saw my license sitting in the passenger's seat, having fallen out of my wallet when I was inventorying my purse before going into the store to make sure I had everything. So I went back in, went back through the line, and was disgustingly rude to the poor lady.

I felt terrible about it all week. After all, I work in retail. I despise people who act the way I had!


Last night, I had to stay late at work to help figure out a money snafu. Then I went back to Mom's to pick up my dog. By the time I got there it was 11:00, and I decided to just stay there again; I was too tired to drive all the way back out to Midtown. So I just ran out to grab some dog food for Gus. Kroger was closed (apparently the one in Millington isn't open 24 hours anymore?!?) so that left... you guessed it. Wal-Mart. There were two lanes open, and one of them had the same cashier that I had treated so badly.

So I took this as an opportunity to ask forgiveness. As soon as I got to the register, I said, "I don't know if you remember me, but I was in here last weekend, and I was horribly rude to you. It has been on my mind all week long, and I want to apologize to you." She was very gracious, and said she hadn't even taken it as rudeness, she could tell that I had clearly had a bad day. I told her I had, but that was no excuse for my behavior. She was very nice. We chatted for a few minutes, and as it turns out, she goes to church with my uncle; he's her Sunday School teacher.

I left the store feeling as if a giant weight has been lifted. I guess I hadn't realized just how much that had been bothering me! I slept beautifully and peacefully last night.

Forgiveness is a beautiful thing, whether you are granting or receiving.