Lesson Learned

I was in a hurry at Wal-Mart. I only had a few things to check out and didn't want to stand in line. Sam was waiting with the kids in the van and we had somewhere to go. I ran to the back of the store in the outdoor department to check out. I can usually get waited on quickly there.

But a man beat me to the counter by just a few steps. He was carrying a large handful of garden ornaments. The pin-wheel type flowers that you stick in the ground. The clerk was taking her time scanning every single one of them. Why didn't she just scan one and multiply? What kind of man buys pinwheels for a flower bed anyway? Just hurry up already, you're not the only one in the store today, you know.

The clerk asked him how his wife was doing. "She's well, thank you. I got these for her to look at. She likes when I push her wheelchair outside and has something to look at before the flowers are blooming."

Lord, thank you for the lesson I learned today. I can never be in such a hurry that I can't appreciate what I have. Sometimes it's not even about taking time to smell the flowers, but being grateful that I can get outside by myself to see them.

19 comments:

caramama said...

That's a really good point. Sometimes, I feel like I'm in such a rush I'm not paying attention to what I have. Thanks for sharing this story.

Rebecka said...

very good point.
alot of times we get caught up in everything and think we have it bad when alot of people have it alot worse.

pb&j in a bowl said...

God loves to throw speed bumps right in front of us, doesn't he? Makes us slow down, look around, and appreciate what we have. This was a great story, with the point well made. Thank you for that.

Burgh Baby said...

I needed that this morning. Thank you.

Maria said...

Oh, I've done that same thing so many times before. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one it happens to!

AutoSysGene said...

Sometimes we just don't realize, huh?

jessica said...

Very humbling. Thanks for posting.

Unknown said...

Lesson learned. Thanks for the good story.

ALF said...

I do things like that - I always feel like such a schmuck afterwards. Must remember to be more patient!

AutoSysGene said...

You've got bling!

Flea said...

Oh! Thank you.

Pam said...

Very nice story...thanks for sharing! I can always use a reminder to be grateful!

imbeingheldhostage said...

Wow, great post. Terrific last line too. Don't you love when God slaps you upside the head like that? I try to be a patient driver, because my Dad, the sweetest guy ever, stops at green lights and ALWAYS drives in the fast lane when he's not really going so fast. :-)

Wineplz said...

wow...amazing when God opens your eyes like that...the best part is that you were paying enough attention to realize what He was trying to tell you (I sometimes wonder if I ever miss anything since I'm always in such a hurry).

Birdie said...

ouch - good one

Andrea said...

It's amazing how wrapped up in life we get. We don't even relize how wonderful it is that we can walk and see and smell and do all sorts of other things. I love it when we are reminded of the simple things in life.

Chaim said...

Wow. Yeah, I needed that one. This city has turned me into something of an impatient monster, at least most of the time.

Cecily R said...

Oh how I need that one today!!! For once I am glad I was behind on reading your posts...I don't know if I would have appreciated it as much last week!!!

You are my hero Karen, really.

Maria (also Bia) said...

Well said, Karen. Beautiful.