The Show Me State

Well you never know who you are going to meet in this city. I stopped by Subway the other day to get dinner and the cashier was a very animated, talkative guy.
'I just moved to St. Louis for a girl that I had known for 4 days and we broke up over a football game. "Can I get your number? I love God, I'm not on drugs, and I haven't been in jail" I laughed to myself, thinking, "Really?" His coworker looked at him, shaking his head, and told him, "You act like you're on drugs." He then starts talking about why he likes St. Louis. "Show me God and show me the money!" I ask him what he means and what he says made me appreciate the quirkiness of people and also the awareness of God, whomever you are:
"God is everywhere. Today is 1 billion lottery. Make sure to get your ticket at the gas station." He kept talking and talking as I walked away, laughing. 

Grocery Store Joy

Grocery Store #1: It was a normal day grocery shopping, but I had to stop in to see my favorite checker, Miss A. This lady always has a smile and looks much younger than her age of 60. I tell her it's good to see her and ask how her day is. She smiles, then comes out from behind her checkout stand to give me a big hug, while her boss looked at us strangely. You just never know who you are going to meet...her joy was contagious!

Grocery Store #2: Another day, another grocery store. Another checker, Miss J, looked much older than her age of 70. I told her she had a great smile and she said she had to smile because 'no one smiles around here.' As she checked out my vegetables, she talked about how she needed to spice her life up a bit and try different vegetables. She then found a crescent roll package that someone had left that was broken. You could see the dough popping out of the can. Miss J laughs and says it looks like a food sculpture. She is still laughing as I walk away. Finding the funny out of the ordinary made me remember to do that in everyday life!
-A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Just a Little Time

I smiled today...at the library. Headed in to send off a fax and out of the corner of my eye, I happened to see an older man, who looked like a Grandpa with a boy on his knee, who looked like he was 3. The little boy was smiling and turning pages as he held a book, pretending to 'read.' The older man just smiled..and listened. I work with toddlers every day...and know the 'pretend reading' so well that they love to do. They look so serious, and obviously proud that they are reading the words, usually with animation...creating some sort of story about the characters on the page that relates to their life.

As I walked out to my car and got ready to drive off, I saw the man, carrying the boy to the car to put him in his carseat. A simple thing like story reading....nurture, love, time...these can change a child who can then change a world. It's the little things.
Matthew 25:40 
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

Wisdom at Walmart

Only God Can Judge...was what her tattoo said...written in cursive across her collarbone as I checked out in the Wal-Mart checkout line. I asked her, the checker, about it, and she said she got it after she had had people judge her for what she looked like. I told her I had heard somewhere that it's easier to judge someone than it is to hear their real story. We agreed and I told her she had a powerful message to share.
Wisdom at Wal-Mart. You just never know!

 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7: 1&2

You are Welcome To Come Back

The other day, I dropped some clothes off at the local "Peace Park" founded by an amazing guy named Otis who created this park to create peace in the neighborhood and provide goods for those in need in the community. As I pulled up to this funky looking shelter and pulled out my burlap orange bag full of a random assortment of clothes, several kids immediately surrounded me, asking if they could help.
As we pulled out clothes to put on the shelves, a little boy who looked like he was in Kindergarten, in a worn out corduroy blue, red, and yellow coat, looked up at me with big eyes. I got on his level to say HI and he gave me a big hug, never saying a word. The kids tried on some clothes and when they found out that none of them fit, asked me for candy. No candy, but I did happen to have some kids "I Love Jesus" stickers with me and they grabbed them as quick as a flash. One little girl shook the bag out that I had brought, seemingly searching for any remnants of...well...anything. A nickel fell out of the bag pocket, and she grabbed it quickly and ran off  with it.

When the last dress went on the shelf, a sweet lady walked up to us and started picking out clothes she liked. She pointed to her friend, who was asleep on the bench, saying they were homeless. She had a patch over her eye and said that she just got back from the hospital due to a spider bite from sleeping outside. She repeated "Thank you, thank you" over and over again and filled a whole bag of clothes. She had such a sweet spirit, the biggest warm smile, and talked about how the kids that come over to the park are 'great kids' and how her friend was trying to get a job so they wouldn't have to be homeless anymore.
Just as she was talking, an older woman walked over and told me how she was raising 9 grandkids on her own because their dads weren't good. She seemed to be very weary and looked younger than her age in a hoodie and a ponytail. She had a lot to say...about how she used to be homeless, but now has a house. She asked me if I knew anywhere that had diapers and formula, so I guess there were babies in the house, but only saw elementary aged kids. As we were talking two girls, who looked to be in the 4th grade, stood eye to eye and chest to chest about to fight. The woman started yelling at them to stop, but didn't make any move to split them apart. They looked serious. I don't usually meddle, but this seemed like it could get too crazy. I walked over and asked if they were sisters. They said that they were friends. I talked to them for a little bit and they walked away from each other. Then, the other little kids came around, telling me "You are welcome anytime. Come back." They seemed very hungry for attention and tried to give me a hug. You know, some strangers can be wierd, and I thought, "If these kids are hugging me and they don't even know me....who would they hug?" It's crazy to me that to show Gods love in this world can be considered strange or illegal in some places. I just talked to them about strangers...I pray that they get the love they need to grow.

All this...on a Saturday afternoon reminded me there is such a need for love...in the raw, real, gritty and sometimes pretty...city.

I Bet Your Heart Skipped a Beat!

So, after writing yesterday's post about appreciating a car...today...I lost my car keys.
Enjoying a great time with a friend at a local city park and as I was drinking rose ginger tea, realized, "I LOST MY CAR KEYS!!!" For some odd reason, I didn't freak out; just thought of this as another adventure. I envisioned what I would have to do...ride the bus? call a friend?
Scattering breadcrumbs on my way to the park would've been a great idea, BUT...never thought of that! I thought backtracking would make sense....and that is just where the adventure begins!

Pushing my way through crowds of people waiting in line at food trucks, my cousin suddenly appears with her family! OK, everything happens for a reason right? She is the 'fun' cousin and of course asks her husband to take our picture..right there in the food truck crowd. She waits for Chinese. I wait for Brazilian, then we enjoy our international food before the great key hunt!

Backtracking (no breadcrumbs makes it extra challenging), I see absolutely no sign of the keys so ask a police officer where the lost in found is. At the booth, I am given a park ranger number and asked to fill out a form by a cheerful teenager who clearly loved her volunteer job. No one has found these keys. As I walk past dancers, the smell of many different flavors of decadent food, and enjoy the colorful fashions all around, I realize...I have local beef burgers defrosting in my grocery bag. Ew.

I then call a tow truck as my phone battery is about to die. I wait a good 2 hours, and when they show up, my car couldn't be towed because someone illegally parked in front of it! This is becoming a game. I walk to my friends house (must have walked a good 15 miles by now) and they are not home. It's time for a break. The reality of what people have to do to get from point A to point B is a all up in my face today and I am more and more grateful for a car, but strangely don't miss it and prefer being outside in the wild, wild city.
Luckily, had a few dollars so stopped and got a ham & cheese melt and carrot sticks at a local coffee shop. This was not just any coffee shop. The guy behind the counter gave me his phone to look up bus routes since I had given up all hope of finding the keys. Who does that? I had sat in the grass for several minutes and prayed for guidance...no answer. Found a bus route, and headed out.
As I was passing the place where my car was parked, the illegally parked car was GONE.

Time to call the tow truck driver..again. But, how? My phone is dead. I ask a lady on the street with kids who looks annoyed with a Corona in her hand and asks, "How long will it take?" "Um...2 minutes" I tell her. The tow company says they can't find my car. The lady with the Corona clearly has to leave...so.....

Another walking trip to the weirdest grocery store with the kindest manager who let me use the store phone. I call the tow company again. "Oh, our driver is in the county, but he should be back to you in 30 minutes."

Back in my car...waiting...waiting...and guarding that space in front of my car with my life...1 hour later..no show. Back to my friends at the grocery store. This time, one of the checkers lets me use her cell phone and is all smiles. Thank you lady! It's amazing all the people who help you accomplish your goals and help you when you really need it in an 11 hour day looking for keys!

1 1/2 hours later tow truck driver comes! It is dark and I am almost asleep from the all day trek. Now, I didn't mention the blessing that happened before he came.

As I had walked back to the car, a car started to park in front of me. I told them that the space needed to be clear since a tow was coming. They were a middle aged couple and said they lived across the street. The woman went into her house, then all of the sudden, she is at my car window with a brown paper sack that says "Karry Kool bag", a can of "Big K Coke", and an insulated 2014 Walt Disney World Mug, some napkins and a stretchy straw. I told her i needed an insulated mug. I was so shocked then told her she was such a blessing and she said, "We are going to be watching until the tow comes," as she and her husband proceeded to sit on their porch and wait. "What? Don't they have better things to do than watch me?" As it hit me, I started crying...crying for just a minute because I was in need and God showed me he cares about the little things in this blessing from a kind lady. He takes the time to just watch us and considers us important enough to create us, give to us, and watch over us!

With tears on my face, I opened up the "Karry Kool bag" to find biscotti's and sweet peanut butter bars dipped in carmel. I cried even more, but wiped my eyes as the tow truck driver appeared and I yelled out a hearty "Thank You" to the "porch couple."

Almost home...as the tow truck driver says, "You must be frustrated. I bet when you lost your keys, your heart skipped a beat!" "Nope," I tell him. "It's not worth getting upset for. I just had to laugh." As he drops me off, I give him that "Big K" can of coke and thanked him.

As he is driving off,  I realize...my apartment keys are on the lost key ring. It's a good thing when your landlord lives one street over. It is now late. I walk over and get  keys and she says, "Are you hungry? Do you want to borrow my car to go to church tomorrow? "WHAT?" Seriously, another vivid example of God caring about the details. I thanked her and she gave me a hug and handed over the keys to her '94 Toyota Corolla and apologized for the walnut splatter that the squirrels had made on the window. "Who cares!" I thought to myself. "You're letting me borrow your car...that's amazing." As I get in and unlock the lock bar from the steering wheel, I drive around the corner to my place and sigh....I am home.

Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

"For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me." Then the righteous will answer him saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me!'- Matthew 25:35-40

Whatever It Takes

So I was at Aldi's the other day and an older lady was behind me in the checkout line. It's like at the Aldi's I go to, everyone talks to everyone in the line. This lady tells me that her daughter is pregnant and wants the real popcorn and she can't find it. I tell her I think I saw it at Walmart and she says she is on the bus and it takes too long to get there. Then, she pauses, smiling,,,,and says, "I'll get it though, whatever I have to do!"
OK, I don't know if anyone has ever ridden a bus in St Louis, but I did for a long time when my car was totaled, and let me tell you....it takes a long time to get from point A to point B. Seriously, just going grocery shopping is a huge mission, not to mention if you have a few kids on your tail. So, I could appreciate this woman and it made me remember...never forget to be thankful for a car and never forget that others have to do twice the work to get just the daily necessities.

Grateful.

Ephesians 5:20 “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”