After receiving so many posts and likes about my status (because Facebook does not offer their "notes" feature anymore) in which I wrote a story blog type thing, I thought... hurmm. Maybe I could blog again. I used to. Back when Xanga was the "in" thing. (cue the "oh, Xanga." comments laced with embarrassed chagrin) I also thought. What better way to help hone my aspiring authorship skills? So, hopefully people will read. And hopefully people will enjoy! :)
So.. to start out, I will post once more what I posted last night.
You never know where you will see
Jesus.
I saw Jesus today in a public
restroom.
I scurried into Wal-Mart, grouchy
because my bladder had decided to suddenly feel as if it would explode. On my
retreat to the bathroom, I moved past a frail, elderly man who was leaning
against the wall close to the door I was entering. I offered him friendly smile
before I scooted inside and scoped out the closest bathroom stall, certain I
was in danger of not making it. Right before I entered my stall a feeble,
“Hello? Can someone help me?” caught my attention. I paused. I really have to pee! I thought before I
responded, “Yes, hello? How can I help you?”
“I need help getting up.” She
replied. “I got all confused and I just don’t know what to do. I’m so scared to
get up.”
Immediately concerned, yet
momentarily fearing she would be beyond my help, I went ahead and asked if she
could reach the lock. My bladder would have to wait.
“Yes.” She replied, “I locked the
door. Then I got confused.”
“Can you unlock it so I can get in
to help you?”
“Oh, I suppose unlocking it would
be good for me to do.” Her voice was a mixture of elderly shakiness and
childlike fear. With her cane she struggled to move the lock. “I think that did
it.”
When I opened the door, I got hold
of her gloves and cane so that she would not have to worry about it. I asked
her to take hold on my arm so I could help her up. Our first attempt was not successful. I
suggested she wrap both her arms around mine and braced myself so she could
rise.
Her body trembled for a moment
before she realized she was standing. Relief flooded her eyes as she
straightened with confidence. She started spouting thanks. “You are wonderful.
You looked so small I did not think it would work. You must be strong.”
I smiled: embarrassed she was
professing me the nicest person in the world as a woman walked out of the
restroom. I told her I was stronger than I look. “Well, you must be!” She
declared. We worked together to get her presentable. When she thanked me again,
I reassured her that helping her was not a problem.
When I offered her gloves to her,
she frowned, clearly flustered and confused over what to do next. “Oh, I do not
know whether I should put those on yet or not.” I suggested she wait until she
was ready to go outside and I helped her tuck them into her coat pocket and
handed her cane back to her.
I asked if someone was waiting for
her and if I could help her find him or her.
“My husband is waiting for me
outside. He is probably wondering whatever happened to me.” She gave a small
chuckle as we slowly made our way to the door.
After another thank you, I
reassured her once more helping was no problem as I held the door open and she
laughed to her husband, “We have success. I got lost. ” His smile reached his
eyes, unlike before, as he thanked me for helping her. She asked for his arm to support her and they
slowly hobbled away together.
I closed the bathroom door behind
me, realizing the urgency of my bladder had abated. I realized what had been an
irritation for me a moment before had turned into an opportunity. My heart
filled with so much joy and I thanked God for the appointment He had ordained
for me.
