I was standing in line at the store, in a hurry to get home. The woman ahead of me couldn’t seem to focus. She went back and forth on the items she put on the belt for checkout, then dug in her wallet for a handful of coupons. The cashier scanned each one, only about half weren’t expired. The total was displayed and the woman dug in her wallet and came up short.
By now I’d gone from impatient and irritated to uncomfortable and concerned. Running through my mind was the refrain that I needed to offer to help. I immediately began arguing with God. I reminded Him that what I needed to do was give this woman space and not embarrass her.
Finally, God wouldn’t be silenced. I gave in and asked her if I could help.
“No one can help.” She bit back a sob. “My husband has been out of work.” She looked down. “He was wounded in the war and has trouble holding a job.”
I gathered her in a hug and pulled out a twenty dollar bill to cover her shortfall. After I learned her story, I also stayed in touch with her. Her husband is one of thousands of military members who returned from war with permanent disabilities.
December 3 is International Day of People with Disabilities, and I’d like to focus on our military members who still carry the scars of what they sacrificed for us. They and their families live with changed circumstances on a daily basis. So today, let’s take some time to reach out and say thank you. And to offer help if possible.
For me, next time I’m behind someone slow in the grocery line, I’m going to be quicker to listen to the prompting in my soul.
