I love it when God does something to let me see how he's working in my life. This morning he stopped me dead in my tracks and gave me an unexpected blessing despite the mess I was in.
On my way home from work this morning, I stopped at Meijer to send some mail. I was thinking about all of the things I have to do today, unsure how I was going to get everything done. I put the mail in the slot, turned around and started walking to the exit. I moved my arm to get my keys from my purse, and then froze. I didn't have my purse. I didn't have my keys. I didn't have my phone. I didn't have my money. Somehow I had managed to leave EVERYTHING in my car. I walked to my car whispering under my breath, "Please be unlocked. Please be unlocked," knowing full well that I lock my doors by habit and was pretty certain that this morning wouldn't be any different. When I got to my car I could see my purse and my keys sitting in the passenger seat. I tested each door, even the trunk, hoping that something would be unlocked. No such luck.
I walked back into Meijer, sheepishly stopped an employee and told her my situation. I asked if there was a phone I could use since I didn't have access to my cell.
"I don't think we have any phones that are able to call out," was her reply. "You could use a payphone."
"Well, my money is in my purse and my purse is in the car."
"Oh."
"Well, thanks anyway," I said and turned around wondering if I could figure out how to call collect.
She stopped me, "Hang on, I remembered that Mike has a phone that can dial out. I'll see if I can reach him."
It took a few tries, but she eventually got a hold of him and he brought the phone up.
"I do that kind of thing all the time," he said. "Once, I locked my kid in the car with the car running."
"Well, that gives me some perspective," I replied, happy to have the reminder that things could be much worse.
I called home and my dad answered. My dad has the same tendency I have to lock himself out of his car, and he is always very generous when it comes to helping people out of predicaments, so I was fairly certain he would be willing to help me out. He didn't let me down. He told me he was on his way with my spare key. I sat on a bench at the front of the store and waited, thankful that Zeeland is only 20 minutes from Grandville and grateful that I have a wonderful dad. As the minutes passed, my thoughts returned to all the stuff I have to do today and how behind this would make me. I was worried that this could start a snowball effect and send the rest of the day spiraling out of control.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when an employee walked by carrying a bucket. As she walked by, she asked if I'd like a coffee. "Well, I won't say no. Thank you," I replied. She told me I could go up to the Starbucks counter and they would give me a free cup. It crossed my mind part of my 20 week challenge is to drink only water, but I quickly decided that my exceptionally bad morning could use an exception to the rule.
I walked up to the Starbucks counter. The lady glanced up at me as she continued wiping things down. At that point I realized I hadn't caught the name of the lady who offered me the coffee. "Um," I stumbled out, "I locked myself out of my car and a lady told me I could, um, have a coffee while I wait."
"Someone told you you could have a free coffee? We aren't even open yet." The Starbucks lady looked at me, eyebrow raised.
"Um, yeah. I don't know her name. She was... carrying a bucket," I said, as if that would help. I looked around. The lady was nowhere in sight. "Well, never mind." I walked away.
Then I saw my boss from Kohl's checking out. I told her my situation and we laughed. "That's totally something I would do!" she said. As we were laughing together, the lady who offered me the coffee came up. "I put in for you to get the coffee." She called out to the Starbucks lady, "Can you please get a coffee for this lady?" As the cup was handed to me, I was relieved I didn't have to stumble through any more explanations. "I put in for you to have a donut, too, if you want one." It took me about a half a second to decide that I would have my dessert early today.
Not too long after I finished my donut I was sitting there looking at a lifesize picture of a guy with a megaphone, when my dad came up and said, "Kind of a one-sided conversation isn't it?" It took me a second, but I realized it looked like I was having a conversation with the carboard figure. Dad and I had a good laugh.
As we walked out of the building I thanked the lady for the coffee and donut and I thanked my dad for bailing me out.
On the way home, I was trying to keep my mind on my blessings instead of letting my thoughts dwell on the waste of time that had just occurred, so I tuned in to Moody Radio. The morning deejay, Scott Curtis, (who is a member of the choir I just joined this spring, by the way) was talking about a book about "doing the next thing that you are reasonably sure God is calling you to do." I didn't catch the name of the book, but it sounded intriguing.
"Ok," I thought, "I need to change my focus. Don't think about all the things I have to do. Don't think about how little time I have to do them. Don't think about the mistakes I've made or might make in the future. Just think about what is the next thing God wants me to do."
Then I heard, "Let's open up the phone lines. The sixth caller will get a free copy of this book." Well, I don't usually call in to these things, and when I do, I don't usually get anything, but this morning I had a tingly feeling that maybe God was orchestrating this. I was at a stoplight so I picked up my phone and dialed.
The phone rang. "Good morning, Moody Radio, who's this?" I gave him my name. "Are you ready to do what God wants you to do?" he asked.
"I am."
"Well, you've got the book!"
I was excited, so He asked me why I was looking forward to reading the book. I told him about how I'm trying to make lifestyle changes so I can honor God with my life, and I thought that reading the book could bring focus and clarity while I'm struggling to overcome the strongholds I have in my life.
"That's a good goal," he said. "Now remember to rely on God's grace. You can't overcome strongholds on your own. Be careful not to get too focused on 'what I have to do', because it's not what we do but what God does that makes the difference. We can't change ourselves, but we can allow God to change us." That was something I definitely needed to hear.
So, you see, a very annoying thing like locking my purse in my car turned out to be a huge blessing. I'm not worried anymore about everything I have to do today. Almighty God made it a point to remind me of his power, his love, his faithfulness, and his blessings. He was and is with me. He orchestrated it all perfectly; if I hadn't locked my purse in my car I wouldn't have been blessed by the employees at Meijer, I wouldn't have had a chance to laugh with my dad, I wouldn't have listened to that radio program, and I wouldn't have gotten that book.
An exceptionally bad morning turned in to an exceptionally wonderful morning. All i can say is, "Praise the Lord!"
