CVS is my favorite pharmacy hands down. You'll likely see posts mentioning them in the future. Between coupons and their store club benefits, I often walk out of the store paying next to nothing for most everything.
At one point last year they were providing daily giveaways for anyone who was a member of their store club. Once the reveal was posted on the CVS app as to what the day's freebie was, I would take a peak and see if it was worth a quick drive to the store.
One day I had gone to pick up an item that was worth the drive. While walking up to the register, I had made the decision to use the self checkout figuring I didn't need to bother a human with my menial purchase. With everything loaded on my app, the plan was just to scan, bag, and get out of there.
My total computed to zero and I received my receipt. Everything seemed to be fine and I was just about to leave. Then all of a sudden an automated voice called out while an orange light flashed above my head, "Please wait. Help is on the way."
'Aw, man!' I complained in my head. 'Now I will have to interact with a human.'
I waited until the cashier on duty was available to assist me. "Do you need some help?"
I explained the situation to her letting her know that my item was indeed free but the machine began chirping at me after I finished checking out.
"Oh, I see she said. The problem is that the machine doesn't understand why it is free." She used a card to stop the machine's protest and reset it. I thanked her for her help and I was free to go.
This whole exchange made me think about the difficulty us humans have accepting the free gift of God's salvation through Jesus Christ. Just like that self checkout register, we just don't understand. Because we doubt, we turn to help outside of God. People, pills, power, pride. But none of these can provide real help. Only a relationship with God our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ can adequately answer our cry for help.
Do you have a need? Call on Him and rest assured that help is on the way.
Today I made pancakes for breakfast. Although this may not seem to be of any significance whatsoever, let me assure you that it was. But it wasn't so much about the pancakes--it was about the syrup.
You see I had purchased some syrup a few weeks back. Not just any old syrup--maple syrup. The real deal. The kind that costs 3 times the amount of what kids typically think of as syrup, but comes in a bottle that is 1/3 the size.
I had managed to keep the syrup under wraps (or so I thought) for some time. It was shoved all the way to the back of a kitchen cabinet that was already stuffed to the gills with what I hoped were deterrents to prevent foraging around and finding my stash. Earlier this week I had sacrificed some of its contents to use as a sweetener for me and my 6-year old. Then back to the bowels of the cabinet it went.
As you can probably tell, authentic maple syrup is a rarity in our household. This is for the following reasons:
1. It's super expensive
2. The limited number of uses our family gets from a product like this does not justify me purchasing it
However, after recently changing the way I eat, I wanted to substitute maple syrup as a sweeter in some of my foods. Giant had it on sale and I jumped at the opportunity. But I wanted to ensure that my treasure would be safe.
Fast forward to today. I make pancakes. I don't want anyone but me to have the precious syrup. My plan: put the regular syrup on the table for everyone to see. Take my pancakes into the kitchen to put "the precious" onto them. Then sit at the breakfast table enjoying my pancakes in sweet bliss.
Enter my husband. "Thanks for making the pancakes, Hon. Ooh! I just remembered, we have maple syrup!"
I bristled. He remembered! And he remembered because I told him about how I had just caught the tail end of the sale at Giant. WHY!!! My secret was out. The dream was dead.
Seeing my dejection my husband challenged me. "So are you keeping this to yourself?"
I explained my plans for the syrup and my now disappointment knowing what would become of it--an empty bottle by sundown.
He looked at me amused. "You know you're wrong."
These weren't his exact words but it was the gist of them. And I was...wrong. This is how I later thought about it: I had purchased the maple syrup to improve my health and ultimately live better. But what about the people I love? Don't I want them to live better? If they want something that I have and I know it is good for them, why wouldn't I share it with them?
This scenario makes me think about my life as a Christ follower. As a believer in Jesus Christ I have the One who makes my life better, richer, purposeful. When I am unwilling to share with others what is precious to me, I am being selfish. Holding back that sweet, quality relationship so that I can have it all for myself. I know I'm wrong.
So, I relented. I let my hubby pour all the maple syrup he wanted on his pancakes without (openly) giving him the hairy eyeball. I even kept my composure when he offered some to our 6-year old (who didn't like the taste and opted for good 'ole high fructose corn syrup).
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3 & 4
In a nutshell, share to show you care.
...It is one of those days. I am struggling to believe that I am headed in the direction God wants me to be headed. In fact, all signs seem to be pointing towards the opposite direction.
Run, Forrest, run!
Today the words to those songs that I belt out when I'm alone in the car are not just an accompaniment to a good beat. They are my medicine. And the scriptures that I "Amen!" to during Sunday services are no longer just feel-good rhetoric. They are my very life line.
I don't like these times, these times that squeeze out the tears, press in the pain, and weigh heavy with worry. But as the song goes, 'Momma said there'd be days like this'. Well Jesus said the same thing. too.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
While writing this post I am working out my struggle through the word of God. "These things" that Jesus said earlier in John 16 include the following:
Your sorrow will turn to joy
I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice
No one will take your joy from you
Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full
The Father Himself loves you
Reading all these things gives me new perspective. I am led to look beyond what is before me and look to Who is above me. Praise God for the peace found in Jesus Christ!
