The Senior Discount (04/03/2024)

Our drug store has senior discounts on the first Tuesday of the month. And of course, I was there because I am a senior and I love discounts. I made my list, I went in, I found each item on my list, compared prices for comparable products, made my selections, and then I made my way to the check out counter. Two store clerks were there. One started to ring up my items when the second spoke out. “You know you can get a second one of those for only $1.”

I responded that I’d seen that offer, but the bottle was already for nearly a year’s supply (300 softgels). I realized it was a good deal, but I’m 75 years old, I quit buying in bulk five years ago. That’s when the young woman checking me out piped in, “But if you don’t use buy one, get the second for a $1, I can give you the senior discount.” I smiled at her and agreed, “That’s what I want. That’s what I came for, the senior discount.” Then I smiled at her and asked, “How did you guess I qualified for the senior discount?”

When the checkout process concluded, I addressed both of the clerks, I thanked them for caring about me, looking out for me, and making my shopping experience better. They both beamed. Senior day at Walgreens had been a success. As I walked to my car, I thought about the two clerks, their sincere concern for me and my best interests. The world could use more like them.

We are called by Christ to follow in His footsteps, but if we pay attention, we will notice that His footsteps stop, linger at times. That’s because Jesus always noticed those around Him and their needs. If I truly want to follow in His footsteps, it’s not just about the trek, it’s also about those we encounter along the way and how we tend to them, care for them, accompany them. It’s not a timed race – it’s a journey of becoming. And as we encounter others, as we tend to them, care for them, love them, we don’t just help them, we help ourselves to become the one’s Christ calls us to be.

May this day take us farther on our journeys of faith, hope and love. May this day bring us meaningful encounters with others along the Way. And when the day ends, may we find ourselves closer to Christ, closer to being the ones He calls us to be, and closer to those who share the journey with us.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.