Attention Shoppers!

Grocery shopping is serious business for me.  I plan out my menu in advance and make a thorough list.  Then I highlight my list with four different highlighters (yes, I said four) to indicate which store I am buying that item from. 

When I get to the store, I am in the zone.  It is rare that an item ends up in my cart that was not on the list.  I don’t waste time gazing at all the products, picking up this one then that one.  Oh no, I am all business. 

Nor do I waste time just carelessly throwing my groceries on the conveyor belt to get rung up. There is a process for that too! Big bulky items go first, then cleaning supplies, then cold items, you get the point.  I have a system.  You can’t have your big jug of ketchup squashing the bread!

The other day, I was wrapping up my food shopping trip, placing my items on the belt to be checked out when I heard a little boy crying.  Crying is an understatement.  It was more like wailing.  This little guy was not happy.  In fact, he was unhappy the entire time I unloaded my cart.  People were beginning to stare at him and his mom as they stood at the service desk.  I felt really bad for the little boy.  My momma heart strings were being tugged and I had no idea why he was so upset. 

The cashier and I wondered out loud to each other what the problem was.  That was when the situation began to escalate.  His mom started yelling at the cashiers behind the desk.  She was pointing at them with one hand while holding her cell phone to her ear.  It was at this moment that everything in the store screeched to a halt.  (Insert sound of a record being scratched here!) Everyone in the store, from customers to cashiers, was staring at this lady and her little boy, while she screamed and he wailed.

My heart was breaking at this scene.  I didn’t know all the details but I knew it wasn’t good.  I knew too, that this situation needed some prayer.  While my cashier was ringing up my groceries, I was praying silently in my head.  I prayed for comfort for the boy, peace for the mom, and a good end to whatever the problem was that was causing so much distress. 

Have you ever had a prayer time so engrossing and so focused that everything around you melts away? A time when nothing distracts you from pouring your heart out to God and begging Him to intervene? I was so deep in prayer over this situation, the entire store and crying boy faded away.  Only when I had finished my prayers, did I realize my groceries were all bagged up and I needed to pay!

As I put the last bag in my cart, I saw a box of fruit snacks on top.  I thought to myself, “What kid doesn’t like fruit snacks?” Then I heard the Lord whisper to my heart, “You need to go over there.  Ask if that little boy would like some fruit snacks.”

Now you guys, I have shared before how I am a shy person.  I do not normally go up to strangers in the store, much less angry, screaming strangers in the store.  But I felt compelled.  I had to go over there.  I was supposed to go over to this lady and see if she needed any help.

As I maneuvered my cart over to the lady, I said one more prayer, “Lord, I am walking over here because You want me to.  Help me to be obedient to You. I pray I can help this little boy.  Give me the confidence to do this and the right words to say. Amen.”

I parked my cart next to the lady, with the box of fruit snacks right on top. I said, “Excuse me, would your little guy like some fruit snacks?” The lady, who was still holding her phone, looked at me like I was an alien from Mars with three eyes and a giant green head. Then she tersely responded, “No thank you.  He’s not hungry.  He had a stroke a while back and he gets very upset sometimes and THESE PEOPLE NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!”

How does one move forward in a conversation when the other person has just screamed at the employees again? I just kept pressing on.  There was something inside of me that wasn’t afraid. So I said, “I see you are on the phone.  Would you like me to hold your little boy while you take care of things?” She said no.  Then I replied, “Well, you have a good day.” I patted the little boy’s back and said, “You take care, buddy!” cheerfully, as if he wasn’t a stranger but a friend. 

Seeing as how I had nothing else to say or offer the situation, I pushed my cart away.  That’s when the doubts started flying at me.  All these thoughts flooded my brain, “See! You couldn’t do anything! What good did it do to go over there? All you did was embarrass yourself!” I could feel my cheeks get red.  It felt like every eye in the store was on me now!

Just as I was feeling defeated and heading out the door, the kind, little, old greeter lady at the exit stopped me.  “Honey! Where did you get that Elvis t-shirt? I just love it!” she gushed at me. Huh? What? (Insert scratching record noise again!) Suddenly all the negative thoughts stopped as I racked my brain to recall that I had picked it up a few summers ago at a store nearby. For the next few minutes, this lovely lady and I shared Elvis facts and swapped stories only Elvis fans would enjoy!  All the lies the enemy was throwing in my ear were gone!

I walked out the automatic doors with a huge smile on my face.  As I pushed my cart to the car, it hit me.  If there was a light bulb above my head, it would have just lit up! That entire episode, from the screaming boy to the outraged mother, was not at all about God having me swoop in and save the day. It was all about obedience.

I was being obedient to the urgings to pray for the mom and boy.  I was being obedient by going over, walking in faith, and talking to those people.  I was being obedient by bringing the light of Jesus to that tense situation.  I will never know how things ended up for the mom and her little guy. They may have been changed by a stranger coming over to them or they may not have.  But I know I am changed.  I am not the same at all!

God was at work on me that afternoon in the grocery store. Can I tell you that I simply love that I am still a work in progress? God is not done with me yet.  And you know what?  He is not done with you yet either!

 We are always here for you, please email women@westridge.cc with questions or prayers.  We love you!