Long Overdue Forgiveness At The Grocery Store

This is my first attempt to blog!!!  Whoo Hoo!! I am actually going to pull something that I placed on Facebook because I believe it will give you a look into the person I am.  Now, know that all my blogs will not be quite like this one. I am at times quirky, funny and loud, but I am always ME!!!

Today, I was doing the Saturday morning ritual of grocery shopping, which by the way, I abhor!  As I was walking down aisle 4, a woman who may not have been much older than me approached me and asked if I would like to trade $5 for $10 in food stamps.  Now, I have heard of this, but never been approached.  I thought about what she asked and simply said to her, "Can you wait until I come to the checkout line." As I was checking out, she came up behind me and said, "Here is my card, I will type in my code."  I told her to just wait for me at the end of  the checkout counter.  I proceeded to purchase my groceries and requested money back from my purchase.  I turned to her and her handed her the money I requested and said, "Ma'am, have a good day."  She stood there with her mouth opened and thanked me.

I don't tell this story for any kind of accolades, but I tell it because, but for the GRACE of God that could have been me.  I don't know her situation or story, but I do know mine.  Last year I lost my job...I won't go into details, let's just say "someone didn't like me, not my job performance, but me." I was devastated, lost and confused because I had been a "state" employee for 22 years. I  worked in various agencies throughout the state as the Public Affairs/Communications Director.  I worked my way up and was doing quite well, so you can imagine my fear and pain.  Not only that, I am a single mother of triplets and they were in their senior year of high school.  I was afraid I would not be able to provide for them.  But you know what I did?  I turned to God and gave it to him.  I prayed and believed He would not leave me.  To make a long story short.  God placed family, old friends and new friends in my life to help me, to support me, to lend me a hand, to lend me money (LOL) and this year I started a new job.  Through connections with 3, yes, 3 friends, I was able to start that new job.  The pay may not be what it was previously, but I am blessed and because of my blessings, I will bless those around me as much as I can with my time, my love, my friendship, my loyalty, my jokes, and on some occasions with my "liddo" bit of money.

As I was walking to the car, I asked the woman and her husband if I could pray with them, now my friends and family that know me -- know I love the Lord, but I will not pray out loud, unless I am saying grace for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Well, I prayed for them and with them and not only did it release the hurt and pain from my job loss, but it helped me release the bitterness that I held in my heart for "those two chicks" (no names, please!). IT FREED ME!! So, as much as I was able to help the lady in the grocery store, she and her family helped me beyond my wildest imagination.  I give all the glory to God and I thank Him for that brief encounter.