One of my least favorite weekend errands is the grocery store. I think I’ve shared that here before. It’s not the physical act of having to go there; that’s not a problem. I’m just never sure what type of environment I’m going to enter. Will the store clerks be in a good mood? Will the customers in the parking lot be driving like crazy maniacs? Will the parking lot be full of carts because customers were lazy and didn’t put them in the cart corral? I think you get the idea.
We’re fortunate to have a ton of grocery stores here in Naples. Yesterday, I made a point to go to a different Publix to see if that would give me a fighting chance for a good experience 🙂 . I have to admit, the parking lot when I arrived was in good shape and fairly calm. When I entered the store, things seemed ok, people smiling, going about their business. Then, it happened… check-out time. The clerk was a young man and was pleasant. However, he had a woman helping him with bagging the groceries. She wasn’t quite up to speed and was certainly not in the mood to be where she was. At one point, the clerk asked what the heck she was doing. As I watched this encounter, I began to just feel bleh, like, please just get me out of here.
A few minutes later, the manager came by and asked the woman who was bagging to please head outside to pick up carts. Over came another young woman to take her place and finish bagging my order. I paid the bill and headed for the door.
Bingo…sure enough, I got outside and headed towards the car only to find, you guessed it, a cart in the parking lot right by my car. Oh, did I mention the cart corral was only steps from it!
I got into my car and sat there for a moment, wondering why people couldn’t just be happy and respectful of others. Why can’t we just treat others as we want to be treated?
Well, as if God was listening to my thoughts, something happened just a few moments later that changed my whole perspective. My phone started to hum as text messages were coming in. Several friends were letting me know they had just purchased items from Amazon to send to my brother and his wife. I was overwhelmed with their generosity as I looked at the messages and all the items they had purchased. Things that will help my brother and sister-in-law settle into a rental home until their home can be rebuilt.
In a moment, my perspective changed, and my faith in God’s children was restored. There is so much good in this world; why can’t we focus on that? Why do we let satan try to convince us that there is only ugliness out there? Why do we let some try to divide us, when Jesus wants us together as His children?
The Lord has blessed us with each other. He brings us together to love and support each other. To lift each other when we fall. To provide when someone is in need. To love when one feels alone.
Friends, let’s focus on the good, and let satan keep his ugliness. Show someone in some simple way today, that you care.
Thank you everyone for your continued prayers. Please also lift prayers today for the return of sweet Emily Rea.
Hebrews 13:16
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
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