See the people around you

Story time.

On our trip to Virginia, we stopped at a Walmart to buy a new car DVD player because ours was broken by some tiny feet.

I ran in and grabbed the DVD player and then lingered for a bit, knowing I needed to get back to the car. I felt at peace and was still for a few minutes looking over movies, crafts, whatever caught my eye and then in an instant I felt a sense of urgency to check out.

I walked down to self check out and then thought—no, I’m not doing that and walked all the way back to a check out line where I saw an older woman frantically searching her wallet and allowing everyone else to pass her in line.

Multiple people took her up on the offer to go ahead of her and get out of the store faster, and when her eyes met mine to allow me to go I knew why my recent lingering felt right. God was positioning me to serve.

Just as she was about to give up and walk away from her cart, I asked her if she lost something. She couldn’t find her card and thought it could be at home. She had given up at the exact moment that it was my turn to pass her.

I asked her if I could pay for her cart with my own and she was beside herself. The relief she felt is relief I have felt in my life before when it comes to finances when God has made a way for me when I couldn’t see one myself.

We waited in line together as tears swelled in her eyes and she shared how she wished she could have gone down to Florida to help those in the hurricane but she’s here taking care of her husband and cannot leave him.

I reassured her that she was serving on the exact mission field God had in store for her to serve on and she smiled.

When the transaction was completed, we hugged so hard and so long. It was one of the best hugs I’ve had in my lifetime—and I’ve had a lot of solid hugs. This one hit differently.

I almost didn’t share this interaction because I don’t like that boastful effect sharing stories about doing what we are literally called to do every day.

She’s no different than me—she simply didn’t have the card she needed in her purse and I did.

My reason for sharing isn’t to be cheered on for doing the right thing—it’s to remind everyone to slow down and see those around you.

See the mother struggling with her children while she’s out. See the grandmother who can’t figure out how to work the new machine. See the young man who served our country and is now without a home and hungry…

See the people around you.

And if you find yourself in a position of the sweet woman who couldn’t find her card today, know that God slows His children down and causes them to peacefully linger until they’re supposed to get you, too.