Britt!

With a horrible headache, I dragged myself to Ellie's dance class. Knowing we had run out of milk, bread and fruit -- lunch packing essentials -- I drove my sluggish self over to Walmart to pick them up while she danced. Without a headache, I avoid Walmart. With a headache, it's on my list of things NOT to do! Since I wasn't near a grocery store, I ignored that list and opted for Walmart location convenience.

Of course, I ended up with the cart with a bum wheel. Thunka. Thunka. Thunka. I pushed that cart through the aisles, picking up the lunchtime necessities. Somehow, peppermint bark jumped into the basket. Really. I have no idea how it happened. *wink*

(Peppermint bark is my FAVORITE Christmas treat. Certainly, that little package just wanted to make me feel better. Right?)

I headed to the checkout, the Walmart experience I dread most. Grumpiness abounds in the Walmart checkout lines. Customers are rude. Some are down-right angry. Most of the time, store clerks are absent-minded, not interested in me, my groceries, or their job. Not that I blame them.... what a boring job. Swipe. Bag. Swipe. Bag. Cash or credit? Over and over. They stand on their feet for hours. AND they have to deal with each and every grumpy, angry customer who goes through the line.

Approaching the checkout area, I noticed that one lane was empty -- and open. The young lady working that register leaning on her counter talking to three teenagers beyond the next set of registers. I hesitated. Will she do her job? Or, will she keep yammering with the kids? That happens sometimes.

I decided to chance it.

As I placed the milk on the counter, she instantly turned her focus to me. "How are you?" Not thinking about social expectations, I replied, "I'm tired." Exhausted, really, but I didn't go that far.

Chipper, she asked, "Have you been Christmas shopping?"

"Yes."

She exclaimed, "I've met a lot of people who are tired today. It seems that Christmas shopping does that, but at least you're getting it done before Christmas Eve!"

My foggy, throbbing brain started firing. This isn't the typical Walmart experience. I honestly thought, "Pay attention, Karen. This is a special person." I pushed my focus to her instead of my headache.

She swiped the peppermint bark and placed it in a bag as she shared, "Oooooh, I love peppermint bark! Do you know you can make it yourself? It's so much better than this, and cheaper too." I looked directly into her face, and she animatedly explained how to make peppermint bark. She added that if I buy canisters from the dollar store, it makes a great gift. Cheap!

Everything bagged, I ran my credit card through the machine. It didn't read. GROAN! This frustrates me too. Usually, the churlish clerk barks at me to do it again. Not this girl. "Oh no. It didn't take your card the first time. Please swipe it again." As she smiled warmly.

I am in the presence of a human angel!

I swiped. Bubbly, she declared, "Oh good. It worked."

She handed me the receipt, looking directly at me with a warm smile spread across her face. "You have a great night."

Britt, I just did! Thanks.

Friendship!

After an incredible Thanksgiving weekend, my heart bubbles with things to say... but, it's all bubbling up together. You would not enjoy reading my thoughts! Well, maybe you'd laugh hard at my jabbering and marvel that I've managed to raise three kids without losing one along the way....

So, for now, I'll simply say, "Thank you, God, for the blessing of friendship!"

Who's your friendship blessing?

Detours by God

My senior year in college, the dean called me to his office. That was not typical and I was really nervous. He got straight to the point, "Karen, you need to go to law school." What??? I can honestly say becoming a lawyer NEVER had entered my mind before that moment. Inside, I laughed hysterically. To the dean, I said, "I don't know a thing about law school." He explained that I would have to take the LSAT and then apply to schools.

I had no money for gas to get to college. How would I pay for the LSAT? The dean had an answer for that too. Ohio State's Law School had a fund for financially needy students. He sent me to the law school.

That happened to be the last day to register. The receptionist handed me a form to complete. She disappeared into another room for a few moments, then returned to tell me I was registered. She handed me a tri-fold brochure that included a brief explanation of the test and question types. She told me where and when to report for the test. Easy!

And then... test day.

A mob of hopeful attorneys-to-be waited outside the test room. Some were taking the test for the third time, hoping for scores that would finally get them into law school. I remember thinking I had no business being there if they had taken study courses and still couldn't score well.

The proctor let us into the room and I sat down with pencils, pop tart and pepsi. Closing my eyes, I offered this prayer, "God, I have no idea what I'm doing here. If You want me to go to law school, You better show up big time." Like the Israelites who were cornered with the Egyptians in pursuit in Exodus 14, I had no place to turn. Either God showed up or I didn't go. That day, I lived out Moses' instruction in Exodus 14:14, "The Lord will fight for you. You need only be still." When we get to the end of ourselves, God shows up. We just need to be still and trust Him.

The test results came.

God showed up. With HIS help, I scored in the top 5% in the country. I was offered a full tuition scholarship to law school. God had a plan for my life -- something I never would have chosen for myself. Something I had never considered. How cool is that?

Maybe God has a plan for you that you don't even know about. Will you trust Him with your life?

Or maybe you know God has a better plan -- peace for your family, or contentment in your circumstances, or joy in living -- but you just don't "feel" it.

Trust me, I didn't "feel it" for law school, but God did. Won't you trust Him today? Just BE STILL. TRUST His plan. One day, you'll yourself like the Israelites, victorious. Then you can shout praises too.

And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD 

and put their trust in him...

Exodus 14:31