I don’t want a blessing. Just let me be crabby.

I rarely leave home except to go to medical appointments or the emergency department. When a friend needed my assistance to complete a task, I dug down deep to find energy to help her. Despite being extremely exhausted, I left my home to travel to another community 15 minutes away. I attempted to complete the errand; however, my efforts were blocked. The business were I needed to complete the errand refused to allow me to complete my task. I was frustrated and upset. I had used my precious energy to help my friend, and yet, my actions were futile. I felt so defeated.

My dad was driving the car, and my mom had asked my dad to go to the bank for her. The bank was across the street inside a big box store. My dad drove to the store. Being upset and drained of energy, I decided to enter the store and head for the grocery department where I knew a bottle of kombucha was waiting for me. When I arrived at the shelf, I smiled when I saw the store had favorite flavor of kombucha in stock. I grabbed the bottle and headed for the checkout.

At the checkout, there were only a few lanes open. I could have gone to self-checkout, but I refrain from using these registers. It is very hard for me to use the registers because they are too high and are not designed for those who use scooters and wheelchairs. If I use self-checkout, I often strain and pull muscles trying to reach the register. Henceforth, I decided to use a register which has a cashier. The line was long; I patiently waited.

The woman in front of me looked around in boredom. She saw I was behind her with a single item. The woman backed up her cart and told me to go in front of her. I thanked the woman and moved up in the line. When I arrived at the cashier, the woman behind me told the cashier something. I could not understand what she said. When the cashier scanned my item, she tried giving it to the woman behind me. I told the cashier the drink was mine. I went to pay for my item, but the woman behind me told me she would pay for it. I thanked the woman for her kindness and left the store.

At this point in the story, I should be rejoicing. A stranger had paid for my purchase. But, in reality, I was lamenting. I was really upset that I was not able to help my friend. I just wanted to wallow in my grief. Now that this woman in line decided to be a blessing, I had to thank God for His goodness and kindness. I did not feel like rejoicing. I just wanted to be crabby.

As I sat in the car while my dad drove us home, I thanked God for changing the tone of my day. God saw how much I tried to help my friend. God saw how my actions were thwarted. God moved the heart of the woman in line to pay for my kombucha. Although I was still in a foul mood, I smiled God sent this blessing my way.