<p>Tonight I went to the grocery store. It was dark out. As I was walking up to the shopping carts by the front of the store I saw a lady also approaching the carts. She was nicely dressed and holding a wrapped gift. She said Merry Christmas and I said thank you. As I pushed my cart she said this is for you and tried to hand me the gift… I said no thank you. She said that she just felt that the lord needed to bless me today and that the gift was for me. I again said no thank you and walked into the store. I’m curious… what would you have done? </p>
<p>That is rather strange. I don’t think I’d take it either.</p>
<p>The same as you did. I would also tell her that you felt the Lord needed to bless her as well by giving it to someone else. Then there would be blessings for all. </p>
<p>No I would not have taken it and said thanks but I do not want it. Some little old lady at work who was a volunteer came up to me and tried to pin a flower on my shirt. I happen to be working, and wearing one of my favorite shirts that would have run if it was pinned. I said no thank you- she insisted and I said no thanks again, she again insisted and tried the guilt approach- why not? I said finally because I said so.</p>
<p>No, I woild not take a wrapped gift of any kind. In this day and age, God knows what might be in it!</p>
<p>But…I have had folks pick up my tab at Starbucks…and I have played it forward.</p>
<p>I am with you about accepting the gift, but I have seen some efforts on Facebook encouraging this type of stranger gift giving as a way to spread joy during the holiday season. </p>
<p>It just makes me uncomfortable though so I totally relate to your response.</p>
<p>No. Even assuming the very best of intentions, I’ve just purged my possessions due to space limitations in my new home. I’ve had to throw away stuff I actually like. The chances of the gift’s being anything that I would even slightly want is slim at best! So, the only reason to accept the gift would be politeness, but that is overridden by the weirdness of the situation.</p>
<p>Chances are pretty good that acceptance of the gift would trigger solicitation of money. No thanks!</p>
<p>This happened to me last Christmas Eve. I was in the Dollar Tree with my son looking for a particular item (which was not there. . .) A young girl came up to me, said “Merry Christmas,” stuck a decorated envelope into my hand–then she ran off. I took it, thinking it was just a kid’s homemade card or a religious tract. Then I saw it was an envelope and was sort of afraid to open it. I walked around the store a bit and my son said to go ahead and open it, so I did. There was $100 bill! I actually didn’t know if it was real because I had never seen one of the new $100 bills before. I am not a needy person --when my adult kids heard about this, they teased me about “looking homeless.” Of course I passed on the gift to a more deserving person. Anyway, yes, I would take a gift from a stranger. People do this as a random act of kindness. It spreads the holiday spirit. Sometimes I do random acts of kindness for strangers, too, and it makes me feel good.</p>
<p>It would depend on what it was. I once got a buy one get one deal from Starbucks, and gave one to a stranger in the parking lot. I explained why she got it and it made her day. If the gift was wrapped I’d have a harder time with it, but it would totally depend on circumstances. I might take it, but unwrap it in public. I would likely donate it.</p>
<p><a href=“Unique traffic stops in Missouri bring drivers to tears - CBS News”>http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sheriffs-deputies-kindness-brings-drivers-to-tears/</a> Watch the video. Very sweet</p>
<p>I think random acts of kindness are great, but I wouldn’t want to take a gift from a stranger. However, I had a very strict “be nice” upbringing, so I might say “oh, how kind but really, I’d love it if you gave this to someone else” and try to make a quick getaway; if that failed, I might say “how nice,” accept the gift, then pass it along or dump it somewhere. I would have put an envelope from a stranger in the trash unopened, I know it. It might be a character flaw, but I’m deeply uncomfortable in having unscripted moments with strangers.</p>
<p>I like practicing anonymous acts of kindness. Sometimes we’ve asked a waitress for someone’s check but said we didn’t want to be identified, and then left. There is probably a degree of awkwardness in receiving even that!</p>
<p>I would take a card like atomom got, or cash, or a gift card or someone paying my bill. I would not accept a wrapped package.</p>
<p>Random acts of unwrapped kindness are nice.</p>
<p>We have a food store near us (Stew Leonard’s; you might have heard of it even if you’re out of my area) where, if you spend $100 or more in a single transaction, you can get a free ice cream on your way out. I don’t want the ice cream, so whenever I have a receipt with that amount, I give it to someone standing in line who is about to pay for their ice cream. The person always look confused, first, and then happy. </p>
<p>Where I live (central Utah) I would not be surprised if a stranger gave me a random gift. But they would probably bring it to my front door.</p>
<p>Strangers with wrapped gifts in dark parking lots is just weird.</p>
<p>I had a gift coupon from Sam’s for a free pizza and drink. I happily gave it to a mom with 3 young kids. She seemed very grateful. I also gave her some individually wrapped snack foods–soft oatmeal cookies (which I was taking to a meeting), which she also seemed to appreciate, as the kids were tired and hungry. </p>
<p>I would not. Especially from someone who heard voices telling her to give out gifts. I am suspicious of religious people- it’s just how I am. I also would likely not accept an unwrapped giftcard or something because I am 23, childless, and there are people who need it FAR more than I do. </p>
<p>With that said, my dad and I used to go to Detroit around the holidays and give out gas cards and grocery store gift certificates to families with children. They were never wrapped and most everyone accepted them (a few turned it down because they said they didn’t need them and to give them to someone who did). </p>
<p>No. </p>
<p>No I wouldn’t </p>
<p>My best guess is that the wrapped package contained a religious book.</p>