Seven-year-old Zachariah decided his GaGa needed an extra set of hands this week. Our Tuesday morning began with an excursion to find donuts and hot chocolate. His little head decided our breakfast menu. His big heart expressed that he would direct me to where the best hot chocolate and donuts could be found. Once inside his chosen store, the real food for thought was served.
As mentioned last post, I’m currently hand handicapped!! As my fingers experience weakness and numb tingling, my brain tends to ignore what is and suffers, at times, the reality of my ignorance. Such was the case last Tuesday. Having ordered our hot chocolates, we stood waiting for them to be brewed. Without thinking, when the barista handed me mine, my mitts reached for it. Instantaneously, the cup slipped through my hand and made a gigantic splatter painting covering everything in sight. Hot chocolate was everywhere, except in the cup meant to contain it.
Apologetically, I turned my palms over revealing the bandages and explained I had just had surgery and forgot my hands were not capable of holding any weight. Both girls working the counter immediately grabbed a pile of towels, bolted around the worktop and, while consoling me, began the mop up. One motioned to the other that she had the mess under control and needed her counterpart to take over making me another hot chocolate. Suddenly, I realized I was not in a puddle of a mess but in the midst of Christian help and caring. These two angels refused any payment for the new hot chocolate or even praise for their clean-up deed. Their only concern and need were for me to know everything was ok, and their helping hands were there to do for me what my mitts could not do for themselves.
Having only a debit card and no cash in my pocket, I was shortchanged to even repay these girls for being my angels. We walked away and headed to the donuts. My wise beyond his years grandson kindly informed me that he was going to carry our donuts!!
Instead of ringing our bakery goods up at self-serve, we waited in line for a cashier. I needed cash back on my debit card purchase. On the way out of the store, I stopped at the scene of my recent disaster. I placed a thank you offering into each of the hands of the duo that showed me such kindness and concern. Zachariah stood by and observed. While walking out the door, my sidekick expressed how nice it was of me to give each of the girls a dollar. My reply was he missed the zero. He looked confused so I explained it was ten dollars, not ones. Shocked he blurted out, “wow, when I get a job, it’s going to be making hot chocolate!!!”. So began my lesson, not in math but in gratitude for what money cannot buy.
Zachariah and I discussed how in the world’s eye, those two young girls were not seen as beautiful, special human beings. They were plain and ordinary in society’s vision; but in God’s eyes, they were His very reflection. They helped from their hearts, and they cared about my feeling like I had failed. They shared God’s love and took it upon themselves to “do unto others as they would like others to do unto them”. As children of God, we are called to recognize special angels and share how much they are appreciated and how great a blessing they are. Out of the mouth of babes!! – Zachariah ended our discussion with the statement that even after their money was spent, he was sure they would remember the mess his GaGa made and never forget how special they were for helping me instead of putting me in time out!!!
Without any doubt, having a set of handicapped hands just might be a mitt full of blessing and a heart full of gratitude.
Uplifted in a Broken Down World 