God Made Me Do It

Last updated on: August 22, 2014 at 4:03 pm by Rebecca Frech

God Made Me Do It 2014-08-22T16:03:35-05:00 Rebecca Frech

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I saw her behind me in the grocery store check out line, the girl who could have been me 12 years ago. Her tiny girl was perched in the seat of the shopping cart and looked much too small to be sitting up so steadily. Her protruding belly announced to all the world that her second child be arriving within the month. She looked tired and wrung out and sported a streak of cookie slime on her left shoulder.

I spoke to her briefly and she smiled with true joy even as her eyes looked too weary to stay open much longer. The girl was 10 months old and small for her age; the boy was due next month and big for his.

I could tell by the way her eyes kept darting from one item in her cart to another that she was nervously counting and re-counting the amount of money she would spend. She probably knew to the penny how much the total would be and was just reassuring herself that she wouldn’t have to put anything back. She fidgeted and looked in her coupon envelope and rubbed the baby’s back and then counted everything again.

I’ve often said that I wish I could go back and help the girl I was then, struggling to pay every bill and meet every deadline while also keeping my small ones fed. Then suddenly, here I was in the grocery store check out line staring at an earlier vision of myself. I mentally shook myself, paid for my groceries, wished her a good day and made to leave. She smiled at me, then apologized to the clerk as she began to count out pennies to pay for her milk.

I took two more steps and then could go no further. There was a $20 in my wallet that I had tucked back for a pedicure. A still, small voice reminded me that I really didn’t need it. I thought of that $20 and could not take another step. I pulled it out, and folded it in half. I turned and walked back to this younger version of me and slid it into her hand.

“This belongs to you.” I said. “God told me it was yours.” Then I turned and walked away before she could thank me. I didn’t need thanks. I just needed to sit for a moment and catch my breath.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 29, 2010

To Slow Us Down

Next Post

January 31, 2010 Random Mom Facts - Updated

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What part of the body does the Breastplate of Righteousness protect?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The heart The stomach The head The back