Am I just strange or is this the element of compassion in its purest form?
@zoey7879 (3092)
Quincy, Illinois
April 8, 2009 2:27pm CST
Many years ago, I worked in a convenience store. The majority of our customers were regulars, including a middle aged gentleman who usually came in with his young son...
The man was usually extremely, almost rudely quiet. I was the employee who was stuck working that Thanksgiving evening, and as predicted, the man came into the store; only without his son and the pain was extremely visible upon his face. I noticed this almost immediately, but kept silent as I rang up his purchase until he suddenly came to life. He spoke for over an hour of his song, marriage gone awry, and how his own father had passed away a few hours prior. This man, whom had relatively always been only a stranger in the crowd to me sprang to life sharing with me his heart and soul; the love, pain, loneliness, thankfulness, regret, and unswept tears.
He spoke to me and I listened until he turned and walked slowly out the door. The next time I saw him, it was business as usual; I've never been able to express how much I simply wanted to hold him that day.. To bring him close and wipe away the tears. It's been 5 years since I last saw him, but to this day I wonder if he knew how I felt at that moment. Perhaps I'm just odd... What do you all think?
3 people like this
7 responses
@freeforlife (21)
• United States
9 Apr 09
I think he could feel how you felt for him that day. If he had not I don't think he would have spoke to you so freely. I think your heart went out to him on this day because we all have compassion in us. Even though the man had never spoken to you prior you still felt as if he was human once he begin to express him self to you. I enjoyed reading what you wrote. It's amazing how one person can touch our lives with out ever knowing it such as he did your life, and in some strang way you might have touched his life as well by just listening and not judging or turning him away.
1 person likes this
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
8 Apr 09
How precious that was to be the listener to him. I believe that we all need to vent from time to time. Even if what we say makes no sense to anyone but ourselves. He might have been dealing with the stress of his father--who might have been ill, and it all finally come to a head. Chances are he found a listener and let it all out, and though he might not have said it, he was probably thankful for the opportunity to share his thoughts. It's kinda sweet that he didn't do it in front of the little boy. I think you just saved him heartache by listening to his father. Kids today see way too much and don't need to. i say Kudos for being that "angel of mercy" at the moment when he needed it. You seem like a blessing in disguise to wonder all these years about that!
1 person likes this
@dmrone (746)
• United States
8 Apr 09
Hi zoey! I think he saw in you a person who had a good heart and would listen. There are people who listen and there are those that really listen. The ones who really listen, listen with their hearts, mind, and soul. I think he knew how you felt at that moment, and he knew he had someone who would truly listen.
1 person likes this
@chrisissilly (10)
• United States
11 Apr 09
i'm the same way (like the guy) extremely quite i keep to myself not because i think im better or rude but because i keep myself locked up. However with bottling up all of these emotions sometimes the bottle fills up and i need to spill my guts out and who better to tell the pain, embaressment, depressing, or anything of that nature with someone you may never see again? they can never hold it agains't you and could never make fun of you for the thing that has happened to you. He may have wanted to be hugged or held or some other form of affection for his sorrow but maybe he got it at home, he just needed to spill his guts and you were there to do that for him and that was enough. You could have told him you didn't care or too busy to hear his problems but you didn't and thats the best thing you could have done. I almost garentees he still think about that person inside frys or wallmart or wherever you worked who he told everything to and will never forget your kindness =]
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
9 Apr 09
No you are not odd. A person reached out to you and you listened. From what you said here you are a sensitive person to others feelings. Sometimes that is all it takes is a person who is willing to listen to a person. You can be sure he knew what you were feeling. It doesn't take words for a person to know the feelings of another person. He could see how you felt in your face. 
