Blessings from the Wal-mart Parking Lot

Yesterday I had the task of going to Wal-mart to purchase snacks and breakfast for our preschool program. Needless to say to those who know me well Wal-mart is a dreaded word in our household. Due to other errands I needed to complete, I chose to go to what we affectionately call the "old" Wal-mart on the North end of town. After two hours of wandering the store to find the items on my list, I proceeded to the checkout frustrated that I could not only find some of the things on my list but that this particular store does not even carry some of the items available at the sister store across town. While the groceries were being scanned the operator carried on with the operator next to her. The only consolation was the other operator did bag my groceries through the conversation. I left the store pushing one buggy full of bags and pulling another about 2/3's full. As I exited the door a group of young adults with t-shirts reading "Joy Christian Fellowship" were passing out bottled waters. As a young man approached with the bottle he walked behind me and placed it in the basket of the buggy I was pulling. Politely he asked to help take my groceries to the car as he began to push the buggy forward. As we reached the curb another young man from the group came and took the buggy I was pushing. While walking to the car the first young man asked me about the Gracepoint t-shirt I was wearing. We discuss our churches as the two young men loaded every bag into my trunk. The gentlemen left me with the words "May God bless the rest of your day." I thought about the witness these boys were leaving in that parking lot. They saw a stranger's need and rushed to try and help with that need. They also wanted to share the love of Jesus while fulfilling that need. While I am perfectly capable of carrying two buggies of grocreries to my car and do so once a week, it was a blessing to have help during a busy Saturday afternoon. I want to challenge myself to be on the lookout for people even a stranger who may need my help. What a perfect example of Jesus these boys were for everyone who was in a full Wal-mart parking lot on a busy Saturday afternoon.