In the middle of the Mall, Miss Linda read in the newspaper that today is National Shoes Day! She was so excited that she decided to go to the shoe stores. One store, in particular, caught her eye. It was called “Shoes -R- Us.”
They had every type of shoe you could think of—even horse shoes in different colors and one that glowed in the dark! Miss Linda’s excitement grew as she walked into the store.
She spent two whole hours looking for a pair of shoes in her size, but no matter where she looked, the shelves seemed to be sold out! Miss Linda grew more and more frustrated. She stomped her feet and huffed, “How can they not have my size on National Shoes Day of all days?”
Upset, she marched straight up to the manager. The manager’s name was Pockettes. Pockettes patiently listened as Miss Linda expressed her frustration, complaining about how the store didn’t have her size in stock.
Pockettes, understanding Miss Linda’s disappointment, extended the store’s National Shoes Day sale for an extra week and even gave Miss Linda a special voucher for her troubles.
As they chatted, Pockettes noticed the beautiful necklace Miss Linda was wearing. Pockettes asked, “Miss Linda, where did you buy that necklace? It’s lovely!”
Miss Linda blushed and gently touched the necklace. “This old thing? My grandmother gave it to me when I was about 10 years old. It carries a lot of memories.”
She paused and smiled softly. “My grandmother used to sing to me ‘Amazing Grace’ when I was a little girl. At that time, I thought Grace was a woman’s name! I didn’t understand the meaning because I was so young and didn’t know how to use fancy words.”
Miss Linda looked up, her eyes filled with warmth. “But now that I’m older, I’ve learned the real meaning of the word Grace.”
Pockettes, intrigued, asked, “What does ‘Grace’ mean to you now, Miss Linda?”
Miss Linda thought for a moment. “Grace, to me, is kindness that’s given freely, even when it’s not deserved. It’s about being patient with others, forgiving mistakes, and helping people without expecting anything in return.”
Pockettes nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a beautiful way of thinking. Sometimes, we forget how important it is to be kind, especially when things don’t go our way.”
Miss Linda chuckled, “Oh, I know! I was so frustrated earlier about the shoes, wasn’t I?” Pockettes smiled and nodded in agreement. “But then you were so kind and understanding, and I realized I was just upset over something small.”
Pockettes smiled warmly, “Well, I think we all have moments like that. It’s okay to be upset sometimes, but we can always choose grace—kindness and patience. That’s what makes things better.”
Just then, a young girl entered the store, looking shy and nervous. She was holding a small shoe in her hand. “Excuse me,” she said quietly, “I lost my other shoe, and I don’t have enough money to buy new ones. Do you have anything that might fit me?”
Pockettes looked at Miss Linda and winked. “You know what? Today is National Shoes Day, after all.” She turned to the girl and said, “I think I can help you. Let’s find you the perfect pair of shoes, on the house.”
The girl’s face lit up with joy. “Really? Thank you so much!”
As they searched for shoes for the girl, Miss Linda whispered to Pockettes, “That was a perfect example of grace.”
Pockettes smiled. “Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.”
Once the girl had her new shoes, she skipped out of the store happily, leaving Pockettes and Miss Linda feeling warm inside. Miss Linda, still touching her necklace, said softly, “I think my grandmother would be proud.”
Pockettes nodded. “I think she would be too.”
As Miss Linda left the store, she realized that grace wasn’t just something she wore around her neck. It was something she carried in her heart, ready to give to others. And as Pockettes waved goodbye, Miss Linda knew that kindness and grace could be found in even the smallest of moments—like a kind word, a thoughtful gesture, or a new pair of shoes.
In this story, we’ve learned that showing kindness and understanding, even in small moments, makes the world a better place.