Greetings, Refresh readers,

What happens when a routine grocery store mistake turns into a divine appointment? We are reminded that God can use everyday inconveniences for meaningful purposes. Thanks for reading today! ~Lori

Never check your grocery store receipt.

Unless, of course, you want to find a mistake. Which will then require you to stand in line at the Customer Service desk behind people sending Western Union money grams, buying lottery tickets, and complaining about over-ripe avocados.

Unfortunately, I didn’t follow my own advice. On the way out the store one evening, I couldn’t resist skimming the receipt. It didn’t take me long to spot two (not one, which I might have overlooked) price errors.  

Sigh.

Do I chalk up the loss or ask them to refund my money?

In this day of sky-high food prices, I couldn’t let it go.

The Dreaded CSD

I slapped my cart in reverse and headed back into the store. I found the shelf displays for my over-priced items, took pictures of the price tags (this isn’t my first rodeo), and headed to the CSD. For ten minutes, I stood in line behind people sending Western Union money grams, buying lottery tickets, and complaining about over-ripe avocados.

All the while, my internal dialogue played. Why do I shop here? There’s always at least one mistake. I don’t have time to wait in line. Now the traffic’s going to be even worse going home. I hate Western Union. And lottery tickets. And over-ripe avocados.

Finally, my turn came.

“Unfortunately, two of my items rang up with wrong prices,” I said. I showed her the pictures and she compared the prices to the receipt.

“Oh, yeah,” she said, squinting at the screen, “those sales are expired. They just didn’t remove the tags.”

Silence stretched between us before she said the words I was waiting to hear.

“But I’ll make it right.” She counted out bills and coins with painstaking slowness. I tucked the money in my wallet, and joyfully pointed my cart toward the door. I had one goal—to get out.

The Little Boy

That’s when I saw the little boy. 

Standing just inside the door, he anxiously scanned the parking lot, the entry way, and the face of every person who walked by. Maybe six years old, he had scared brown eyes and a furrowed brow. 

Alarm bells sounded in my heart.

I stopped so quickly the man behind me had to swerve to avoid crashing into me.

“Hey buddy,” I said, kneeling beside him to avoid triggering his Stranger Danger training. 

He inched away, his wide eyes shifting between me and the doorway.

“Do you need help?”

“I’m looking for my mama,” he said, so softly I could barely hear him.

“Oh! I can help with that,” I said, smiling my best Please don’t be afraid of me smile. I touched his shoulder and steered him inside. “Come with me, and we’ll find someone who can help you find your mama.”

Thankfully, he went, relief smoothing some of the wrinkles in his forehead.

Back to the CSD

Back to the Customer Service desk we went. I scanned the faces, looking for the kindest grandma type I could find.

I glanced at her name tag. “Mrs. Helen, this little guy has lost his mama. Could you help him find her?”

“C’mere baby,” she said, reaching for him. “I’ll help you.”

I turned, confident that my little friend was safe, and once again headed for the door.

I loaded my groceries in the trunk, put the car in drive, and merged into the steady stream of cars making their way home. In the churning of my thoughts, the Spirit whispered.

The Spirit’s Whisper

“If there hadn’t been a mistake on your receipt that made you wait in line at the Customer Service desk to get it corrected, you’d have been gone long before that little boy lost his mama.

“You thought you were delayed,” the Spirit continued, “but you were right where I wanted you to be.”

A picture of the little boy—wide-eyed and trembling—flashed across my mind. He  easily could have been my grandson, separated from his mother and scared that he might never see her again. Eventually someone would have noticed him—but what if that person had evil intent? Or he could have wandered out into the busy parking lot. At best, he could have remained standing there, scared and alone, for who knows how long before his mother found him.

“Thank you, Lord,” I whispered, “for grocery errors, for little boys, and for your sweet sovereignty. Thank you for placing me exactly where I needed to be to help that little guy. Forgive me when I whine and complain about circumstances beyond my control. Grow my faith. Amen.” 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand,

that we should walk in them.

(Ephesians 2:10)

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Do You Know Someone with a Strong Faith Who’s Facing a Tough Situation?

Lord, I Believe

What do you believe about God? Do you believe that He can restore? Or that He answers prayers? Do you believe that He delights in you?  

As you spend 60 days in these devotions, Lori Hatcher will reassure you of who God is and who He says you are. In each meditation, you’ll find: 

• A biblical truth you can claim to rebuild your faith in the toughest circumstances  
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Spend just a few minutes each day with these devotions, and let your heart find strength in the reassurance of God’s unending love for you. 

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