Last Thursday, I stepped out of my COVID-19 comfort zone and headed to Sam’s Club for my monthly stock-up. I have done this since I was a young mother with three children born within four years. I keep a stocked pantry from those early habits as a young mom. This month looked very different for me. I took the option of going at 7 am with those over sixty or with special needs. My husband has cardiomyopathy and we have stayed home for three weeks. I had planned on using the concierge service they were offering but the folks in that line needed it more than myself. I took a deep breath, said a prayer and grabbed my Lysol wipes. I joined a line of around fifty seniors. We social distanced ( a new verb to add to Webster’s this year) with our carts. We were given our instructions about our item limits and the rules to follow.
I was anxious but the Lord used the folks around me to see good. People smiled and joked while keeping their distance. I saw folks help others with getting items in their baskets. I saw a neighborly spirit that I mistakenly thought was gone from our hectic modern world. Employees were offering to get items when people asked about them I thanked one employee for making this right for all of us. She answered, “God has been good to me”. Yes LORD, HE has to me too! An elderly man in a VFW hat from Vietnam and a cane was letting folks ahead of him in the long lines. Yes LORD, you are here in the middle of Sam’s in your frightened people. I tried to picture this veteran as a scared young man in Vietnam. COVID-19 wasn’t stopping him from helping people.
As I went to complete my Scan-and-Go app (best technology app ever) and leave, I saw beautiful tuberous begonias in many colors for a great price. I grabbed a couple of baskets and went to the line at the door to have them check my receipt. An elderly man came up behind me. I would have judged him to be in his eighties. He wore his overalls, tipped back farm supply cap and weathered skin from years of hard work. We all know these folks. His cart was filled with necessities: butter, eggs, milk, paper towels, apples, and a few more items. He struck up a conversation as we waited. He asked me about my yellow begonias. I told him where they were at the register. We visited a few more minutes and then he asked me how much they were. I said $12.99. He said his wife can’t leave their house anymore but she sure would love them. He looked back at the long line behind us and said, “but I have already checked out’. Another employee opened a line and we parted ways. I didn’t think any more about it.
I loaded my groceries along with two of my daughters’ items on my list. This quarantine is very hard on young moms too. My car was full and I was heading home. I went to get gas before I left and I am so thankful I did. I see him coming out of the store with yellow begonias. I started to cry. I doubled back and said something to him about them. He said, “These will make her day. She doesn’t feel very well anymore.” I waved and drove off knowing what true love looks like from the Sam’s parking lot. As soon as I got home, I took this picture of my yellow begonias for this blog. I don’t want to forget.
Jesus shows us glimpses of heaven in our daily lives. GOD’s fingerprints are there when we look. May we be the people that go back for the yellow begonias when it is inconvenient or hard. Maranatha! Jayme
