Blessed to be Broken

There’s a prayer we known as Jesus Christ followers often pray. Lord, use me. Simple, yet powerful.

I believe when we say those three words, we better mean it, no matter what it looks like.

Mostly, we want that to look like God is using us to help someone in need. Someone who’s been praying for help. Someone who even may “look” like they need help.

But, God’s not about neat and tidy Christianity. Jesus coming to live among us worldly heathens should be proof enough that His plans are most assuredly not our plans.

Okay, let’s get into this.

A friend from out of state came for a visit this past week. On this particular day, we decided to wander to the Arnot Mall, in Big Flats, NY.

Yes, we still have a mall. Way past its heyday, but still a mall.

We would up in the shoe store aptly named Shoe Dept. Encore.

We found ourselves checking out summer sandals. We found some super cute ones and decided to try them on.

What appeared to be an older woman wandered to where we were and planted herself in between my friend and I. Or is that me and my friend?! HA!

Either way, my eyes were immediately drawn to her. I watched as her head went from side to side eyeing the merchandise.

I did a body scan with me eyes. You know. We all do it.

She didn’t appear to be a threat. She wasn’t dressed disheveledly. There were no holes in her current shoes. In fact they looked to be a nice pair of sneakers.

She held onto two bigger purse type bags.

So, I went back to the task of putting my own shoes back on after having decided I was going to purchase these sandals.

The woman spoke. She said she wished she could afford the very same sandals we were trying on. Bonus. They were on sale.

She kept repeating her wish.

I did another body scan of her being and I sighed. As she spoke, I could tell she was missing some prominent teeth. I quickly discerned she didn’t look like she couldn’t afford the shoes.

But, that didn’t matter. The next thing I know, I’m offering to buy her the sandals and asked if I could bless her by doing so.

She didn’t hesitate to say yes.

Here’s the rub.

When I offered to buy her the sandals, she wasn’t holding a pair.

You can imagine my shock when she didn’t reach for the “on sale” pair, but instead reached for a far more expensive, name brand pair. Maybe you’ve heard of “Birkenstock”?

As my friend and I watched this play out, the woman stated only one sandal was in the box. Apparently the store holds the other shoe hostage until you decide to purchase the actual pair.

At this point, I could’ve stopped her and said, “that’s not the pair I agreed to bless you with”. But, in that moment, I was too flabbergasted to say anything.

Color me surprised when she quickly took the box containing her ill-gotten goods to the cashier.

As my friend and I watched her hustle up front, we had a conversation about the woman and “the nerve” and “audacity” she had to pull off such a stunt.

My first thought was to just ditch the sandals I was going to purchase and leave the store. Ha! That would show this woman what’s what.

But no. I said I wanted to bless her with a pair of sandals.

My friend handed me some cash because in no way was she going to let me suffer alone. No matter how much I protested this was my responsibility, she wasn’t having it.

We gathered up our stuff and went to the register area.

There stood this sheep in wolf clothing waiting happily for the store clerk to return with the other sandal.

With every fiber of my being surrendered to clearly not myself, I said to this woman with controlled authority, “I want you to know that when I said I wanted to bless you with a pair of sandals, it was the pair you and I both know you were looking at, not this pair you brought up here. However, because I said I would bless you with a pair, and I’m the person I am, I’m going to follow through. You should know, my friend is helping me buy you this pair of sandals, because again, you know this is not the pair we verbally agreed upon.”

She knew she was busted. She couldn’t even look at my friend. She didn’t even thank my friend.

She asked me my name. I told her it was Trish. She told me her name was Harriet.

As soon as the purchase was complete, my new friend Harriet, couldn’t boot scoot outta that store fast enough.

It was like she suddenly morphed into Speedy Gonzales, saying, “¡Ándale! ¡Ándale! ¡Arriba! ¡Arriba!”, as she left us in her dust.

I never felt I was supposed to back out of this apparent scam.

Two days later, I’m still in disbelief over the boldness and the lack of conscious on Harriet’s part.

I have no idea how God’s going to work this out, but I most assuredly know He has a plan that I’m currently not privy to, now, yet, or even ever.

But, what Harriet didn’t know, is who she messed with on that day.

How God chooses to bless this woman, is in His hands. I did what I know to do, even though it’s not what I would’ve chosen to do, and now I’m gonna ask you to join me in praying for Harriet.

Yup, that’s right. We’re gonna pray for Harriet to come to Jesus.

Why? Because it’s simply, yet powerfully what we’re taught to do

As Matthew 5:44 states:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” ~ KJV

And one day, I believe she’ll testify to how a pair of scammed sandals changed the course of her life.

Go bless someone today and remember to take your hands off the notion of who that might be.