Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Lessons Learned at Wal-Mart--#1

Yep....I had to go there this morning. One of my least favorite places to shop. There was no way getting around it. Duty--and a budget--calls! The dreaded weekly trip to Wal-Mart. And, I will apologize now to any of you sweet things out there who work at WM because I know you are not at the one where I shop! You are not the ones who grunt at you in line rather than ask" How are you today?" You are not the ones who totally ignore you while you carefully arrange over a hundred and fifty dollars worth of food, dog food, cleaning products, paper products, etc. on the conveyor belt while praying that your eggs don't get broken or your bananas squished as they are tossed into those thin plastic bags. You are not the ones who stand around talking in a circle while I am searching desperately for a checkout line that accepts over 20 items--I have over 120 items. I am NOT the person you want to be behind in line. You will stand there forever waiting on me and my 120 items. There are so many empty registers and so many workers...hmm...just pondering the reasoning behind that.

OK, enough said. Many of us have suffered through that before. I experience it weekly. So, I have asked God to help me with a project. I guess I can call it "Project Wally-World". As I drive into a parking space, I turn off the car and pray. I ask Him to give me patience and a chance to see Him in the store. Who better to take shopping with you than God??

I made it in and out of the store in under an hour today--new record! I still had not seen His presence. As I pulled carefully out of the parking spot--making sure not to run over any sparrows hopping around eating crumbs--I noticed a darling little girl and her daddy. She must have been around 3. They were exiting the store, and she had her little WM bag clutched tightly in her hand. Being that those are THIN bags, I recognized a coloring book in her one little bag. She was holding her daddy's hand and swinging the bag with the other. Y'all, her daddy was a very tall man. Her little legs couldn't keep up with his, but she was trying. A car was coming towards them--looking for that perfect place to park! As hard as she could, those legs just weren't getting her across the pedestrian crossing fast enough. Lovingly, her daddy scooped her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way.

Do we let our Heavenly Daddy scoop us up when we simply can't keep up with life? Or do we try to do it all by ourselves? I encourage you, sweet friends, to give it to Him and go along for a ride on his Heavenly shoulders. What a view you will have!!!
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:1 NIV

Many Blessings,

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I seoncd your emotion! And I am challenged to do the same. I dread WalMart and refuse to go... however, there are times... So next time I will think of it as "Project Wally-World". =)

Sharon Sloan said...

My heart warmed envisioning the Daddy scooping up his daughter! :) Ahhh..... :)

The Patterson 5 said...

Oh I could just see that sweet daddy scooping up his little girl as you wrote! We do need to trust like a child that as the busy parking lot of life is moving all around us our Heavenly Father will lift us up! He has overcome the world! Walmart included!

Paula V said...

Great post. When you began talking about the little girl you had me clinging to every word thinking something tragic might've happened to her. How loving that this great big huge daddy swoops up this tiny girl. Isn't that so true with our Father. He is great and big and great big, huge. We are so small and can feel insignificant until He swoops us up and shows us differently.

Thanks for your wonderful comment on my blog!!!!
Love ya,
Paula

Joyful said...

ah Susan...what a sweet story and application. There have been days recently when I've just longed for my Heavenly Father to scoop me up and carry me. Beautiful visual.

Love ya,
Joy

Shell in your Pocket said...

What a great picture of our Lord relating to the Dad in the parking lot!

Yes, I am the Pear Cobbler recipe and it is truly delicious. However, if you make it to much those sticks of butter will be on the "hips"!
Thanks for your sweet comment!
-Sandy Toes

LeeBird3 said...

My Walmart people are nice! You just need to move to AZ, that's all there is to it! There's a house for sale down the street with a basketball court, a putting green, a built-in trampoline, and a pool in the backyard. I'll put in a bid for you. ;)

I feel very "scooped up" today...the Lord saw me through a day full of deadlines and paperwork. Love you!

Isabel said...

What a great picture to carry in my heart these days (as I feel overwhelmed)...God scooping me up.

I too dread that store, but I know that sometimes the pocket book calls for the time to be there to shop. Argh!

Love ya!

Edie said...

I have to admit, my first thought was that you were going to say the little girl got hit by a car. I'm SO glad that's NOT what happened. I love how you described her daddy scooping her up though. What a great thought to dwell on.

I take it you were able to connect with Alene and she could help you out. I'm so glad. :D

Yolanda said...

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME

As you are well aware, I love visuals, and something you probably wouldn't know is that I have a DEEP DEEP love for children, which I have none of my own, but I claim any that will let me.

I loved this!

Joy Junktion said...

I love this Susan.
Right this minute my spirit is so weak that I could really use my daddy to pick me up.
Blessings, Cindy

Alene said...

What a beautiful post! Thanks for something to think about - I don't really care for going to our Wal-Mart. Thanks for stopping by and it's beena treat to visit your lovely site. I don't actually live in SA, however, Marine at http://marina-daughteroftheking.blogspot.com/ does. Maybe she can help you out. I don't know how to get around, but there is SO much to do. It's one of my favorite cities. When are you coming South? I live about 2 hours away. Blessings girl.

Amico Dio said...

We have about 17 Wal-Marts within 30 minutes of my house and there are only 2 I dare to step foot in. I feel your pain my friend and I am happy to know that I am not the only one who prays before attempting to step foot into the place.

Chris said...

120 items AND in and out of Wally Worls in an hour!! HOly smokes!! Forget the trails girls... Get the to Walmart for training!!

Great post!

Carol said...

So sweet! You totally captured Wal-mart, too!

Joy said...

Thanks so much for sharing your sweet story. God is in every detail of our life. But it takes a little effort to notice and be grateful for those experiences.

On Purpose said...

As I read this I could see times in my life when God has tried to scoop me up and I get all "stiff" on Him and resisted...and made it very difficult for Him to hold me!

KelliGirl said...

Susan,
I have to second your feelings on WalMart (although we have a new one with some people that are actually helpful). I pick Tar-jhay any day.

What a great visual of the little girl and her daddy. I'm going to carry that with me through the weekend.

Good luck with your training this weekend! Thanks for being such an inspiration and living example...both as a runner and a woman of God.

marine's words said...

if your coming to SA,Tx the river walk is a must see all the food there is good!! the market squared is anothrt nice place. & La cantra is a nice out door mall very pretty. sea world ,fiesta tx's
hope some of these helps. marina