Thread by @Therra

The most amazing, infusion-of-joy thing just happened to me in an ATL @WholeFoods.

@Ludacris bought my groceries.

He was ahead of me in line when the food for my 4 rescued dogs & 2 rescued cats (and elderly, blind chicken named Dixie Licklighter) ended up in with his stuff.

lI said to the lovely young cashier, "Oh no, sorry, that's mine. So sorry."

"I might as well get it, " he said.

Wait. What.

Long story short, he bought all my groceries. I even tried to stop the cashier at a certain amount and he stopped me, "I said I got this," he said.

I was gobsmacked and in a minute I'll tell you why. I stared wide-eyed at this handsome young stranger as if he'd just dropped through the ceiling like a black James Bond, like a Batman, like the Black Panther. Then I started to cry.

I asked his name. "Chris," he said.

We shook hands. Then I hugged him.

I didn't realize who he was, and as he waited patiently for the lovely cashier to total up my stuff (again, ALL of it) I wouldn't have recognized him ( even though I love me some "Rollout), because I could barely see anything through my tears.

I was in shock. The total ended up being $375.

He asked me about my rescued dogs. We small talked but I tripped over my words, all the while thinking, "I'm talking to an angel. Should I tell him? Should I tell him he's an angel?" I kept thanking him. After he paid my tab

he said "They'll make sure you get all this out to your car, okay?"

"Who ARE you?" I asked at one point, in true wonder.

"Just a guy," he said.

No. Not "just a guy." No.

This guy is awesome run amok. You know why? He was just doing something kind for a disheveled, harried stranger. Showing the love in his soul. Shining a light in the world. But there's something else.

What Ludacris had no way of knowing is that I can't really afford to shop at Whole Foods. Not much, anyway. I was there because my kind friend (Miracle Mary I call her) gave me a gift card b/c she knew I'd had a verrrrry rough time recently.

What Ludakris had no way of knowing is that my husband died of brain cancer and climbing out of that hole, emotionally, physically and financially, has devastated me for four years. I won't lie. I've struggled in ways I didn't know a human could struggle and still survive.

What Ludacris had no way of knowing is that I'm Hurricane Katrina survivor and I lost my mother because of that unnatural disaster.

What Ludacris had no way of knowing is that his quiet kindness and generous gesture came at a moment when my candle was out.

He used his personal light to fire up my own. Isn't that what we should be doing for each other?

I think it is.

Be like Ludacris y'all.

I know I'm gonna give it a try.

Thank you, Chris. God bless you.