I usually try to avoid Wal-greens. I just haven't had too many great experiences. I turned in though, because I was in the left lane heading home and realized that I really needed to get a few things, and it was like "last stop for 30 miles." You know those signs in Kansas that say "last rest stop for 123 miles" and all of a sudden you realize you really have to pee. It's that rest stop with the broken toilet seat, the sink barely hanging on to the wall, and writing all over the walls, with the floor covered in toilet paper. It looks like a scene out of Rest Stop. That was the feeling that I had as I turned left, suddenly remembering that I needed more pm meds and the essential bread and milk.
We travelled through the store collecting the items that we needed. I rushed Kailie through the toy aisle, trying to convince her that we didn't need the scuba gear and bribing her with a soda on the way out. We hustled to the check lane with the fewest people possible and saw the doors of our refuge nearing closer. All of a sudden I realize why there was only one person in front of us.
The coupon lady.
She had three coupons for every item she was trying to purchase and her Wal-greens weekly advertisement in hand. Her money was no where in sight. In the mean time I am trying to stand on one leg. Because remember that my foot is broken, right? My hip begins throbbing. That is what happens when you stand on one leg too long. Your hip throbs. These thoughts are racing through my head...Be patient, be patient...find a place to sit...be strong....find a place to sit...hurry up..."Kailie we don't need that, put it down." That is when I hear, "Manager to check out three please." The computer won't accept one of the coupon lady's coupons. Imagine that.
At this point, I throw my three items into the cart, and hobble over to another check out where there are two people in front of me. Everyone in the store is like staring at me. In about 5 seconds flat the cashier checks us out. At this point, however, my hip is really hurting. And the debit card machine isn't accepting any of my requests. I have to hit "yes" or "no" or "ok" about a gazillion times and it asks me about a gazillion questions. Seriously? The cashier looks at me like I am the most impatient person on earth (apparently not noticing my crutches.) After the receipt prints out he shuts off his light and I think for a second, maybe he will help us out to the car, but he heads toward the back of the store. Some lady comes and steals our cart, and I think, ok, we can do this, we can get out the door. Kailie carries the bag of bread and our sodas, and I somehow manage to get the gallon of milk in my grasp along with my crutch. We get to the curb, and as we wait for traffic to pass, Kailie says, I can't carry this, it is too heavy. Ok, she is four. But I know I can't carry it. So I'm thinking...what the heck am I supposed to do? All the while, wondering, "won't someone help me?" and imagining myself carrying all of these things, tripping down the curb (which seemed more like a mountain at the time) and landing face first on the hot cement. But I am too darn proud to ask for help...
All of a sudden a hear a voice from behind, "Can I help you with that?" I figured it was the coupon lady, serves me right....but it was a lady that I played softball with, someone from my church. I swear there was a halo and "Hallelujah" music playing.
I almost cried.
She carried our two bags to our car and made sure we were ok. I was so so thankful.
Unfortunately, I'm one of those people that has to learn by experience. This whole breaking my foot thing has really taught me that I need to see people and be aware of their needs.
I realize that I am really selfish. I hate that about myself. I actually lose sleep over it. I agonize about the times that I didn't ask how this person was doing, or help so and so, or made a plain selfish decision that hurt other people.
I guess I don't really get how to change that until I have a need that is so painfully obvious but yet ignored by so many. Then I finally get it. Other people's needs and hurts are right in front of me, but I choose to ignore them because I am too busy with my own agenda, like saving 75 cents on pencils or finishing my list of tasks, or getting my candy bar to the car before it melts.
There are only two things in this world that will last...the Word of God and people. If we aren't focused on living out the Word of God and helping and ministering to people, then our whole entire life will be wasted.
Lord, please make me an instrument of your mercy to those who are hurting and in need around me today.
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