Wal-Mart: An exercise in grace

Coming home from work yesterday I had to get a few non-grocery items from the store, so I reluctantly made my way to Wal-Mart. I go there because, as everyone knows, you get stuff cheap, but the trade-off is dealing with the crush of shopping carts ramming into you, the unruly urchins under foot and the inevitable, inexplicable wait behind 50 other people in the one or two "lit" lines among the 25 or so that are closed.

As I'm enduring this hassle, my mind starts outlining my next blog entry, entitled "Wal-Mart: an exercise in grace." It was going to be about how one needs an extra measure of the fruit of the Spirit to get in and out of that store without blowing your testimony. Though He was cool with the title, God clearly had other plans for this post.

Reaching toward a top shelf to grab one of the items on my list, I noticed a young woman standing near me, just looking at me. When I turned, she said something to me in broken English and handed me a note. It explained how she had no money, no job, two kids at home and no food for them.

She just looked at me and said "Please." It may have been the only word she had mastered, but it was more than enough.

During the time I paused to process what was going on and to determine how I could help, her eyes searched mine in expectation and hope, wondering if her plea would be rejected or her need would be met.

Having only my debit card on me and realizing she probably didn't want me escorting her through the store as she got the things she needed — things she couldn't get herself — I bought her a Wal-Mart gift card and told her I would be praying for her. Who knows if she understood a word I said.

She thanked me profusely and made her way to the grocery section.

All I could think was how desperate her need must have been to approach a total stranger, who didn't even speak her language, in such a public place with such a private request. She had obviously reached the point where any pride, fear or doubt paled in comparison to her need. I was seriously humbled by the exchange and left thinking, as anyone would, "I could've done more."

God can do more; He does do more ... "more than we can ask or think." But He always has to bring me to the end of myself — when it's clear that there's no other hope but Him — before I find myself asking, hoping, believing like this woman had, in simple faith.

When the two blind men came to Jesus to be healed, their need was obvious. Why would Christ ask them, "What would you have me do for you?" So they could put feet to their faith by asking and expecting a loving Savior to make them whole again. And He confirms: "Your faith has made you whole."

Father, thank you for allowing me to be an available vessel of your grace, and for showing me the true nature of faith in the process.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." [Matthew 7:7, 8]