I locked my keys in my car today. Good times! But, my son was already in the parking lot because we planned to go to lunch. So he hopped back on his motorcycle and headed to the house to get the spare key to my vehicle. #Hero
I took the opportunity to get out of the heat of the day which was heavy with humidity. #Blech So, I headed back into the store.
As I sat in the store waiting for my son to return, I asked God to show me who I could bless. As I scanned the various people moving around the store, I hummed the lyrics to “Build My Life,” because it was the last song I heard getting out of the car.
Watching all the people around me, I got the sense I was to look closer. So many people. Just like me, just like you. All of them a walking story.
Some wore shirts with their favorite sports team. Kids wore their favorite character on their shirt or something saying how awesome they are. Some had glitter, some wore hats, and well, some wore less than others.
But there was one t-shirt that was bolder than all the others. The front was the same as the back. I sighed. I thought, little kids just learning to read will see that and will ask questions parents my not want to answer yet. Made me sad. That what we want to say so loudly through what we wear could cause another to stumble.
The song changed in my head. I thought of the movie Funny Girl. I pictured Barbra Streisand playing the character of Fanny Brice dressed up as a pregnant bride and I smiled as the lyrics “A walking illustration of his adoration” now played in my head.
I thought “I wonder what story I tell” when people see me. “If” they “see” me. In high school I was told more often than not I looked like a b****
I wasn’t, I just didn’t walk around with a smile plastered on my face. I was quiet. I was shy. I didn’t feel like I fit in. I had my circle of friends that I pretty much kept to but there were also times, I didn’t shut up. Just ask the teachers who would put me in the corner. Ummm, hello, I can still talk from here. And, I did.
I digress, back to the main idea here. I continued to people watch. I saw people doing life together. I had the thought to shout out “Does anyone need prayer?” But I squelched that. More than once to be honest. Usually I’m pretty bold these days, but life has knocked me down a bit, so I kept watching.
But as I looked, I heard in my spirit “these are my people.” “What do you see?” And my eyes filled up with tears. Seriously, I think tears are my super power these days.
What I saw were people, made by God, created in His image. Each one unique with a story, just as I have one. No better than me. No worse than me. Just different. Yet, the same.
And I realized that as I waited and watched, God had blessed me in so many ways. I was touched by lives in those 30 minutes through people I may never meet.
And all they were doing, was everyday life. Getting each other coffee, paying for their groceries, smiling at others, pushing carts, taking fitful kids out to the car, and the list goes on.
These were the people I saw in Walmart today. My life will never be the same. Because God taught me more about love today. And when God touches you, you get wrecked in the best way!
(Originally posted 18 August 2019, on my Facebook profile)
Blessed to be Broken 
Leave a Reply