God's Sense of Humor

Not even 48 hours after I had written that last blog did I experience one of those defining moments when my day was derailed right in the middle of the busiest, most crucial part of it!! I was at Sam's buying last minute items for our on-campus Bible study. I had dropped my youngest daughter and a friend off at a nearby dollar store to finish their Operation Christmas Child shopping. As I was loading the cases of bottled waters, salsa, Velvetta cheese, and other items into the trunk, I laid my keys down IN the trunk along with the receipt. (If this sounds familar, it's because you have been reading my blogs for the past three weeks!! see:When It's All Locked Up Inside) And, yes, once again my hand reacted much quicker than my brain, I closed the trunk, and within seconds, gasped and sputtered all over the parking lot as I realized what I had done. It was 4:30 and I knew we needed to leave from our house in 75 minutes, all packed up, ready for the Bible study. Sheepishly, I called and told my husband what I had done, and quietly, very quietly, he asked where I was and said he was on his way. (He really does deserve a medal for how he handled that)

So, there I stood in the Sam's parking lot, looking idiotically, but accurately like a woman who had locked herself out of her car. Then it hit me. The previous blog, the derailment of our plans, and what God might want to do through me. My heart rate intensified as I again had a purpose. I scanned the parking lot like a hungry person would scan a dumpster behind a restaurant! Who needed me in the parking lot of Sam's? What did I have to offer this moment of time?

I watched an older black woman slowly push her buggy to the trunk of her car. As she started loading her half dozen large cans of baked beans and other large items, she looked over at me and said, "So, you're locked out, are you?" (Well, I knew it was obvious, but really!!!) "Yes, ma'am, I guess it's easy to see that, isn't it?" She laughed as she heaved another can from her buggy. By this time, I had meandered my way over and had started helping her with the loading. "Oh, don't worry about it, honey. I did the exact same thing the other day. Locked those keys right in the trunk with my load. Now, I gots me a spare key in my pocketbook, 'cause I always has my pocketbook on my arm." (great idea, I mused) We talked a little more, and I found our conversation both comforting and strengthening. She blessed me without really doing anything particular. Just by being a warm, friendly, encouraging person.

As she started to get in her car, she smiled at me and thanked me for helping her. In my heart, I was thinking, No ma'am, I think you helped me today. So, okay. Another lesson learned today. Sometime the hiccup in my schedule might not be for me to bless or help anyone; it actually might just be a moment that God wants to reach down and touch or bless me through the life of someone else. How could I EVER be too busy for that??